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Lois Jeanne Schrager Endowment Established COUNCIL BLUFFS. LINCOLN, OMAHA Omaha, Neb.. Fri., December B, 1980
C Appoints venJ. Rod .»«', assistant executive director of the Minneapolis JCC the past five years, has been appointed executive director of the Omaha Jewish Community Center, Jay Lerner, JCC president, has announced. Mr. Rod assumes his new position on Monday. He succeeds Phil Cofman, who has resigned. In his Minneapolis position, Mr. Hod's major responsibility was for the programs and staff of the JCC. The Minneapolis JCC Is noted nationally for having one of the largest and finest Jewish cultural arts programs in North America, Mr. Lernersald, Prior to his tenure In Minneapolis, he served as the national program development consultant for JWB, the National association of JCC's. His responsibilities included helping to develop and share creative Jewish programs with JCC's throughout North America. He has served as the college youth director of the YM-YWHA of metropolitan New Jersey and as the youth worker of the Rochester, N.Y. JCC.
For the past four years he has served as vice-president of the Association of Jewish Center Workers (AJCW), the professional association for Center workers. In this capacity, as well as his four years at JWB, he has had the opportunity to visit more than CO JCCs In the U.S. and Canada. In 1979, he served as chairperson of the Communal Service Division for the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. He has been the seminar leader for the JWB Professional Seminar In Israel, and field instructor for the Schools of Soclal Work a t Y c s h i v a University In New York and the University of Minnesota. A stamp collector, he Is a member of several philatelic organizations. Mr. Rod Is from Brooklyn, New York, as Is his wife Francine. They have two children, Adam, ten, and Elana, seven. Mrs. Rod Is a professional e d ucator with a double degree In Early Childhood and Special (education. Mr. Rod holds a Master's Degree from the Worzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshlva University. (Continued on Page 2)
Soshnik Memorial Created Establishment of the Barbara and Allan Soshnik Memorial Fund has been announced by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Joe Klrshenbaum, Federation president, said that Barbara and Allan were loved and r e s p e c t e d throughout the community and that their death in the MGM Hotel d i s a s t e r touched off a wave of compassion for them' and their family. "Many friends, shocked and saddened by the tragedy, have asked the Federation to create such a Memorial Fund, and after consultation with the family, a specific concept was selected," Mr. Kirshenbaumsaid. The Barbara and Allan Soshnik Memorial Fund will b e t t e d to provide a specianifcllity at the new Center for the Aging long term care facility, Mr. Kirshenbaum said. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Jewish Federation of Omaha, 333 South 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68154, directed to the "Barbara and Allan Soshnik Memorial Fund."
As a lasting tribute to his late wife, Philip G. Schrager has created the Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund, according to Morton Richards, chairman of the Jewish Federation Endowment Committee. Lois Schrager died from cancer in 1978 at the age of 38, and is survived by four children; Jeffrey, Timothy, Richard and Angela. "Lois was always concerned about other people, and she demonstrated that In a significant way by working throughout her life as a volunteer," Phil said. "I think this Endowment, which will help those in need for a long time to come, is a wonderful way to express our family's love for Lois. We Intend to provide young people with scholarships, and to help the infirm who always held a special place In Lols's heart." The Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund will serve a (Continued on Page 2)
Lois Schrager
Kallah Weekend Changes To Saturdy and Sunday For the past several years the Jewish Cultural Arts Council has presented an authority on some phase of Jewish 1 ife in a Kallah weekend hosted by three synagogues on a Friday and Saturday in December. This year, in an effort to reach even larger numbels ol members of the community with a subject of concern to both Jews and non-Jews, the College for Jewish Family Learning of the Jewish Cultural Arts Council has scheduled the Kallah Weekend lectures for Saturday night, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21. Dr. Norman Stillman, associate professor of history and
Arabic at the State University of New York at Binghamton, New York, has been invited to be the Kallah scholar-in-residence for an in-depth study of Islam, the Arab lands, and Jews. Pr^ Stillman will speak at Temple Israel on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. on "The Islamic Factor in the Middle East: Understanding the Revival". On Sunday the guest lecturer will discuss "The Jews of Morocco: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" at Beth El synagogue at 10 a.m. following a mini-brunch. His lecture will
be illustrated with slides. On Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Stillman will speak on "New Attitudes Towards the Jew in the Middle East: Can a Semite be an Anti-Semite? Dr. Stillman, a well-known lecturer on the East coast, received his B.A. and Ph.D. in Oriental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania magna cum laude, and continued his post-doctoral studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He speaks Arabic, colloquial Moroccan Arabic, Hebrew, French and Persian and has a reading ability in Aramaic, Latin, German and Spanish.
A Tribute in Memory of Frieda Suvalsky The death last week of Frieda Suvalsky has diminished both the Jewish communties of Omaha and Council Bluffs where she made her home for almost all of her 78 years. Her passing also brought a great sense of loss to her many non-Jewish friends, many of whom attended her funeral to show their respect and affection. And for good reason.
Photo by Ellen Gordman
Budget Approved Paul Cohen presents the recommendations of the Budget and Planning committee on the 1981 department budgets to the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation at the group's meetIng last month. From left are, Allan Greene, Budget and Planning director; Mr. Cohen, committee chairman; Joe Klnhenbaum, Federation president; and Louis B. Solomon, executive director of the Federation. See story on page 3.
Despite a full schedule of working with her husband, Saul, in their grocery store and eventually the furniture business, despite caring for her mother and raising two sons, Marvin and Selwin, Frieda found time to express her love for Judaism in a number of concrete ways. A lifelong member of Hadassah, she was an enthusiastic spokeswoman against anti-Semitism, and for the cause of Zionism. It was Frieda, who, upon her return from trips to Israel, Imbued fellow members of Altrusa, American Legion auxiliary and other civic 'Frieda Suvalsky groups with the showing of her hundreds of colorful slides of the Holy Land. It was Frieda who invited her non-Jewish friends to lectures and programs where they would learn about Judaism and Israel. It was Frieda who personally kept in touch with Iowa's representatives and senators in Washington, D.C. and In the Iowa state legislature on matters
concerning Jews and Israel. And it was she who not only saw to it that they received the Near East Report but who also served as a self-appointed salesperson to Jew and non-Jew for paid subscriptions for that important news media. It was Frieda, who, despite her own lack of a formal education, became a self-taught Bible teacher to Jewish youngsters of Council Bluffs. Today many vividly recall their first exposure and indoctrination to Zionism by an inspired Sunday School teacher. There were other diversified activities while she was well — Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, Salvation Army board, Tuberculpsis association, and the Council Bluffs playground commission. And always there was her Intense love for her family i including great grand-children) hersynagogues in Council Bluffs and OmafiaTtfie totaTculfural and educational" life in the duo-Jewish communities. As long as she could walk she literally ran to every Jewish activity, every Jewish learning experience. For her devotion and commitment to Israel and community she was twice honored by Israel Bonds and many times honored by friends and co-workers. At all times she fought with vigor and dignity for the causes In which she believed. She was a zealous woman of strength and quality, of Innate intelligence, of joyous spirit and character. As it was said at her funeral and many times before and since, she was an unusual and colorful woman of warmth and love for all that was crucial to her Jewish people. There are none to replace her. byMaryFellman