,J Jewish Press
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September 25,1981
Rosh Hoshanah 5742 Jewish life A little more than 10 years ago, my family and I relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, after having resided in the large Jewish population centers of the Northeast. Here, we were welcomed into an extended family-the Jewish community itself became our family. It was a heartwarming and unique experience, one that we shall alwayscherish. During this period, I began to hear slnries about Jewish people residing in even smaller communities. In many cases, these families were the only Jewish families in the small Nebraska or Iowa town. This curiosity stuck with me when I took over the editorship of the Jewish Press- In the back of my mind was the thought that someday it would be nice to do a series of stories on Jewish people residing outside the mainstream of Jewish life in Nebraska. As they say on the television commercials, that time is now. The Jewish Press committee approved the theme of this iSeiv Year issue, thereby setting into motion a sequence of activity that proved stimulating as well as interesting. First we developed a list of possible stories through names recommended by our local rabbis and through our subscription l list. ' Some names, like Harry Silver of Queensland, Australia, were immediately discounted for obvious reasons. We pursued other prospects depending upon their availability, distance, and restraints in both staff time and travel expense Fortunately, some talented reporters were available to help: Ellen Gordman, Bert Lewis, David Bittner, and Hillel Bromberg. Some of their comments and experiences in carrying out their missions were almost as interesting as the stories themselves. For example, Mrs. Lewis whose knowledge of the community along with her comforting, congenial style of writing added a distinctly warm touch to the paper, said: "...upon speaking to my story subjects, there was a constant thread...the tendency to reach across whatever distance to the • nearest Jews. The Jewish mother in the small town, she added, reminded her children always, that though they may be surrounded with nonJews, they were Jewish. One of our stones ended in disaster when Hillel, now back at Boston University, traveled to a small town only to find that the family in question could not be considered Jewish. Although they subscribed to the Jewish Press, they only stated that they had a "Jewish orientation." In some other smaller communities, we had a couple of situations where the one Jewish family in the community declined
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to be interviewed. No reason was slated, but we got the im~ pression that these people had no motivation to openly identify themselves to their non-Jewish neighbors. Another story was killed because those who were intervieived had second thoughts about what they had said and expressed concern over the possibility of another newspaper picking up their • comments. These difficulties required that we expand our original theme to include some stories on people who grew up in small towns, but who are currently residing in Omaha. Mrs. (Jordman said that she was impressed to see the trouble that Jewish people in small towns went to in keeping their religious identity. "I've been driving carpools to Temple Israel since 1971. The trip from my home to Temple lakes less than 30 minutes. Many limes, I've complained aborit the class schedules, the icy streets, but after talking to the Jacobs, the Robinsons, and Fridrikh Begelmakher, I will complain no more," she said. The one regret that we have is one that we experience at the close of every holiday issue. There are so many good stories that we were unable to obtain. We are encouraged, however, to note that Judaism is alive and flourishing in some of our smaller communities. For that, we are grateful. In behalf of the entire Jewish Press staff, a very happy New Year. Morris Maline
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From a shtetl to the heartland By David Bittner What is it like for an Orthodox Jewish 7-year-old boy to be transplanted from his native European shtetl to a small town in the heartland of the United States? Sam Bittner, who had that experience in 1929 when he and his family arrived in Fremont, Neb. from Poland, shared some vignettes of what that life was like. First of all, said Bittner, it meant going to a new school where you stuck out like a sore thumb because you wore a yarmulke and tzitzis and couldn't speak English. "The other kids teased my brothers and me until we finally stopped wearing our yarmulkes and tzitzis," said Bittner. "Our father understood. Even then, though, they didn't stop making fun of us, and once I began picking up English and learned what some of the words they were calling us meant, I'd get into a fistfight at least two or three times a week. "This kept up until about fifth grade when I stopped growing and everybody else kept on growing," Bittner continued. "After getting
the daylights beaten out of me five or six times, I decided it was more prudent to try to talk my way out of these situations." "I don't think this was really anti-Semitism," Bittner added. "I'd say it was more the typical teasing and cruelty that children show to each other." When he left Poland, Bittner was already a cheder pupil. But in Fremont there was no Jewish school for the study of Talmud and Torah, he said. "At first my father tried to teach us boys," said Bittner, "but a father-son combination tends to be lax, so the Jewish families of Fremont got together and decided to hire teachers for their children. We ended up with a Jewish version of the one-room schoolhouse with all grades and ages represented. "The teachers were Yeshiva students and they would wind'up living with my family since our house was kosher," Bittner went on. "It was my job to go around once a month to the different Jewish homes and collect their contribution to the teacher's salary. My father got me a Continued on Page 6
Sam Bittner
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To the heartland of America Continued from Page 4
bicycle for that purpose." At the age of 13 Bittner became one of the most important members of the Fremont Jewish community, he said. "The congregation was so small it took almost a 100 percent attendance to make a minyan. It was a great blessing for the Jewish community whenever a Jewish boy would turn 13 and have a Bar Mitzvah. Then he became like a spare tire for the services," Bittner explained. "My brothers and I became regular synagoguegoers, not so much out of enthusiasm as necessity." As the process of Americanization proceeded for the Bittner children, Bittner became a Boy Scout. According to Bitther, it wasn't easy to pass the cooking requirement that led to getting a merit badge since his home was kosher. "My mother very carefully fixed me up with some fleishig pots and pans and a kosher chicken, and I went into the woods arid boiled the chicken," said Bittner. "That way I qualified for my merit badge and kept my kosher status at the same time." Also as the Bittner boys grew to maturity, they became interested in girls, but for them going out with gentile girls in
Fremont was a shande--a disgrace. "My parents wouldn't let me and my brothers date in high school," said Bittner. "It wasn't until after the war and we came to Omaha that we began to meet Jewish girls and started dating." Bittner said that he and his family ran into extremes of prejudice and tolerance in Fremont, as far as feelings about Jews among the townspeople ran. "If it hadn't been for,the help and cooperation of the Fremont community and some political figures in Nebraska, we would never have been able to leave Poland," said Bittner. "When my father left Poland in 1923 he had to sign a declaration that he was single. The Polish government wouldn't let a married man out of the country for fear that the family he left behind would become a public charge. So in 1929 when my father applied to have his family brought over, the American government wondered how he could have been single in 1923 but married and have a family in 1929. The townspeople of Fremont and the Nebraska senators straightened out the matter with the State Dept. and immigration officials and then we could leave Poland." But while they were friendly
and helpful, some of the gentiles in Fremont didn't really "understand" the Bittner family, either. "I used to help my father in his store," said Bittner, "and every once in a while one of the local ministers would drop in and attempt to convert my father and me to the Christian religion. Of course all that happened is that we would get into a philosophical debate." His mother got the same treatment at home, said Bittner. Every so often, the Christian ladies of Fremont would come to call on her, saying, "Oh, Mrs. Bittner we've come to tell you the Good News! Jesus died for your
sins!" Mrs. Bittner would laugh, invite them in and serve them all tea and cookies and laugh some more while the ladies made their pitch, understanding perhaps half of what they were telling her. She, too needless to say, remained unshaken in her Jewish convictions. There were real Jew-haters, too, in Fremont, said Bittner, but in 1941 when he and his brothers Max and Morris went off to war and Mrs. Bittner appeared on the streets of Fremont wearing her three stars, one for each son she had in the service, the tongues of these anti-Semites were effectively silenced.
Morris Bittner
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An image becomes reality By Morris Maline To anyone living in Nebraska for any length of time, mere mention of the name, Jim Wolf, brings forth images. My personal image was that of a hardriding cowboy who punched cattle on his ranch in far-off Albion and who from time to time got involved in state-wide issues. When he was named a national commissioner and chairman of Community Services Division of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, I wondered. How could someone living way out there take on such a responsible position and why would he? This is what went through my mind as I drove more than two hours to search for the reality behind the image. One of the first things I noticed upon reaching Albion (population 2070) was the billboard sign announcing "Wagonhammer Ranches, The Total Performance Brand, Albion & Bartlett, Nebraska." At the time, the sign meant nothing, and I kept driving. Another sign further up the road startled me as it pointed to the "Wolf Memorial Center" and it was only seven blocks away near the Boone County Hospital. I was a little early for my appointment in Jim's office so I took the slight detour and approached the Memorial Center named after Max and Hattie Wolf. When I walked inside this neat, wellappointed nursing home, there was a plaque
Jim Wolf - cattleman, banker, lawyer, and cornhusker.
Photos in Jim Wolf's office are from left, JuUus Wolf, his father; Max Wolf, his uncle, and Otto Reich, a cousin. between photos of Max and Hattie on the variety of trophies attested to that fact. entrance wall. Another item of information that intrigued The inscription is reproduced near this a city boy was a definition of wagonhammer: story. a farm wagon part shaped like a forked bolt Armed with this information, I resumed that serves both as a wagon wheel wrench and my drive to the office of Wolf Brothers & as a connecting pin. Reich, Inc., established 1910. Just beneath this Now, Jim was off the phone and it was sign was the further identification -time to leave the office. He invited me to his Wagonhammer Ranches. home for dinner. Inside was Jim Wolf, and this was our first I grinned when he put on his cowboy hat, meeting outside of a formal group gathering because he didn't know that I couldn't ride a at the JCC months ago. horse. Jim was on the telephone, and for the rest . He put me at ease, however, as he of my stay, was off and on the phone giving beckoned to his gleaming new Oldsmobile me a more realistic view of a cattleman at diesel and together we headed off to the sunwork. set. It wasn't long before I found out that he First a stop for fresh corn~not to the corwasn't only in the cattle business, but he was ner supermarket--but to his farm, a short also in banking through ownership of congallop from the office. trolling interest in the Albion National Bank. Here, he showed me his old and new conOn the right-hand wallof the entrance-way finement buildings for feeding and caring for to his otfiee building were three photos: cattle, and then he showed me the secret of Julius Wolf 1880-1942, his father; Max Wolf climbing through a barbed wire fence without 1878-1954, his uncle, and Otto Reich, 1897-1968, snagging my pants. ; a cousin who was like an older brother to Jim. Then, he proceeded to pick fresh corn, In the conference room were a number of knowingly selecting the ears ready for the trophies related to cattle breeding, and a wall table. of Wagonhammer farm and photos, shot by Continued on Page 11 his daughter, Sue, now a teacher and professional photographer in San Francisco. While Jim was winding down his phone calls, the only part of him that met my early image were his shiny cowboy boots. I could see them on top of his desk as he continued with his conversations. Meanwhile, his sales manager Myron Benes, took me in hand and briefed me on Wagonhammer Ranches. The reality of the ranches is that they are about 40 miles from Albion and that the Jim Wolf family doesn't live there. They reside in a comfortable ranch house (not ranch like cowboys, but ranch like in a nice section of Omaha) just about a mile or so down the road. Wagonhammer Ranches, Myron told me, consists of more than 30,000 acres and specializes in bfeeding productive, predictable, practical cattle such as herd bulls, range bulls, registered females, commercial females 4H club and Feedlot calves consisting of Purebred and Crossbred Angus, Charlolais and Simmenial cattle. I didn't understand the technical jargon, but I became convinced that Wagonhammer Elaine Wolf shows some of the documents being used to trace her family history. does an outstanding job and certainly the
September 25,1981
Continued from Page 10
Dinner at his home was a Shabbat meal with his wife, Elaine, blessing the candles and Jim reciting prayers. "When the children were home, Shabbat dinner was always an important family event, and it still is," Jim said After dinner, there still wasn't time to talk. Son, David, had a feature role in the "Comiri' Uptown Players" production of "Harvey", Jim and Elaine invited me to join them so the three of us strolled along a dusty trail through the city park and on to a converted Quonset hut at the Fairgrounds. Jim jokingly introduced me to the play's producer as the reviewer from the Jewish Press who came all the way from Omaha to review Albion's production of "Harvey". After the applause and the final curtain we headed back to the homestead for my promised interview. Both of Jim's grandfathers were cattlemen. One operated a butcher shop in Germany and the other was a cattle dealer in Sioux City. His father, Julius, worked as a merchant in Cedar Rapids, 15 miles southwest of Albion. In lftlO, Max and Julius founded Wolf Brothers. Their first venture was to import and sell draft horses from Belgium, France, and England for work on Midlands farms. When Jim was six, the family moved to Denver from which base Julius bought cattle throughout the Western States, Canada and Mexico. Jim attended school in Denver and graduated from East Denver High School in 1939. He attended Michigan University for two years and transferred to Harvard College graduating cum laude in 1943. Following graduation, he served during World War II as a gunnery officer aboard the aircraft carrier, Enterprise in the South Pacific. After his tour of sea duty, he was selected to attend Navy Language School to familiarize himself with Chinese, Mandarin style. After the war, Jim returned to Albion for a
Jewish l^ess
year to work on the ranch and farm and then attended Harvard Law School graduating in 1949. ^Elaine's grandfather, Henry Schlesinger, was a founder of the South Street Temple in Lincoln. Her father, Melvin, who is 86, was a Lincoln native and now resides in Denver. As an early chairman of the ADL Community Services Division, he and Omaha native, Harold Sacks, the professional director of the Division, were primarily responsible for establishing ADL's network of regional offices. "That's how I got involved in ADL, he drafted me," Jim disclosed. Jim and Elaine were married in 1949 in Denver. They returned to Albion where Jim worked as a partner in Wolf Brothers. In addition to Dave and Sue, the Wolfs have a daughter, Debra, who is married to Dr. Allen J. Parmet, an Air Force Major stationed at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas; and a son, Jim, who works for United Banks Corp. in Denver. Son, David, mentioned earlier, is a junior at UNL Agriculture School. Jim's brother, Robert, also heads a separate cattle business in Albion. Robert's wife, Hannie, is the author of "Child of Two Worlds", a book which details the story of her family, the Baers, a Jewish family uprooted from Nazi Germany. Continuing into the late evening hours, the interview revealed a Jim Wolf who not only is a successful cattleman and banker, but also a concerned citizen. He has held several Civil Rights posts, both in Nebraska and nationally, and has worked in behalf of former President Jimmy Carter and as a special part-time assistant to Senator Edward Zorinsky. Recently, Jim announced his intention to seek the Legislature's 40th District seat currently held by John DeCamp. My initial image of Jim Wolf has been enhanced by the reality of the man. Gone is the vision of Gary Cooper at High Noon. Now, I see a loving husband and father, a dedicated Civil Rights advocate, and a concerned resident of Nebraska. The trip to Albion was worth the effort.
Wolf Memorial Center Max Wolf immigrated to Albion and Boone County from Bad Duerdheim, Germany in 1894 at the age of 16. In 1907 he married Hattie Dryfoos of Sioux City, Iowa. They lived on their farm adjoining Albion until 1918, when they purchased their home in Albion, where they resided for the remainder of their lives. Max worked first as a clerk. He had a great appreciation for livestock. He and his brother, Julius, as Wolf Brothers, imported draft horses from Belgium and France. After World War I, their business changed to cattle. He had a genuine feeling for the land, and with his brother and foster son Otto Reich, acquired farms in Boone County and ranches in Wheeler County. He was widely known and respected as a livestockman, farmer and rancher. Hattie was a devoted and capable homemaker, loved for her kindness and generosity. Their warmth and hospitality endeared them as aunt and uncle to many. Both were known' for their activities in this community and contributed substantially to its development. Max and Hattie were devoted members of the Jewish faith. Most of the time they and their family were the only members of their religion in the community.
WOLF BROTHERS
This painting of the early Wolf ranch was done Dy commercial artist Raymond Hosford of Colorado, a family friend.
They lived harmoniously as an integral part of their community, because their philosophy of life was based on the broadest concepts of neighborliness and brotherhood. In this spirit they gave their bequest for this center. They wished to benefit the area where they lived and prospered. Under the leadership of the Albion Kiwanis club and with the help and financial aid of the community, thisjcenter^ was built and donated to the Good Samartian Society. May it serve always as a living memorial to the ideals of neighborliness and brotherhood which Max and Hattie exem- . plified in their lives. The portraits of Max and Hattie Wolf and this plaque were presented in loving memory by their family.
Saptetnbef 25,1981
M$ GIANT SAHDWICHES
Miriam and Irv Monovitz take a break behind the counter at Irv's Market.
A Fremont institution-Irv's Market at 428 N. Broad Street in Fremont, Neb.
Making a real effort By Ilillel Bromberg Talking with Miriam Monovitz at a corner table at Irv's Market in Fremont was a challenge due to the constant flow of customers in and out. Ervin "Irv" Monovitz had to interject his comments on the run and often disappeared completely for several minutes while he served someone or went to the back room to check on supplies. Mrs. Monovitz, originally from Indiana, has lived in Fremont since her marriage 32 years ago. Her husband, born in Russia, has been in the city since he was four years old. Mr. Monovitz took over the deli-tavern
from his father 30 years ago and moved it to its present location at428 N. Broad Street. According to Mrs. Monovitz, Irv's Market is a popular place for college students to eat and socialize. Irv's also caters local affairs. Mrs. Monovitz teaches physical education and "slimnastics" for the Park and Recreation Services. She said that she enrolled in one such class several years ago and became very interested in it. Now she is kept busy teaching and working at the deli preparing catering plates. Like most oftthe other Jewish women in Fremont, Mrs. Monovitz was a member of Hadassah, and the family belonged to
Fremont's Beth Israel Synagogue. When speaking of Jewish life in Fremont, Mrs. Monovitz said that it is "very, very difficult. We have to make a real effort" to maintain Jewish identity. The Monovitz's have three daughters. The oldest, Sherry, is now living in California. Previously a teacher, she is now a secretary with Capitol Records. The second daughter, Judith, is also in California and is a radiation technologist treating cancer patients. Lori is a business student at Metropolitan Technical Community College in Elkhorn. The Monovitz's are members of Beth Israel Synagogue in Omaha.
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-Jewish Press
September 25,1981
A far cry from Russia
From left to right, Abe. Max, Jake, Dora, and Elizabeth - the Shrago family of Sigourney, Iowa. -
Jake Shrago's grave hi the American military cemetery of Saint Michiel near Thiaucourt, France. Mr. Shrago's grandson visited the gravesite and advised authorities to replace the cross with a Star of David.
By David Bittner The last member of what was once the only Jewish family in Sigourney, Iowa revealed some interesting glimpses into small town life for Jews in a bygone era. Elizabeth (Mrs. Sam) Freed, her parents and her two brothers came from Russia to the United States around the turn of the century. In Sigourney, population 2,000, Mrs. Freed's father, Max Shrago, successfully established himself as a junk peddler while her mother, Dora, started a small dairy business. Elizabeth and her brothers, Jake and Abe, helped their mother by delivering milk to customers after school. ^The Jewish families of Oskaloosa and Ottumwa, many of whom they were related to, and the communities' synagogues helped meet the religious needs of the Shrago family. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur going to shul was a matter of a 25-mile horse and buggy ride to either town. "At first the whole family would stay for several days in Ottumwa or Oskaloosa," said Mrs. Freed. "Later, when we got into the upper grades and our parents didn't want us to miss any more school than we had to, we would go back after services to Sigourney by train. (Oh, the trains in those days...they were filthy. By the time you got off you were covered with soot.) Dad would stay on longer in order to lead services. He was a very learned man.". Kosher meat for the family came from a shochet in Ottumwa. On the other hand, living in such a small town limited the Shrago children's Jewish observances and religious education. Max Shrago taught his sons how to "daven," but neither boy had a bar mitzvah. Elizabeth was never taught how to read Hebrew characters. "Seders were never much of an affair with us," recalled Mrs. Freed, "since there were just the five of us and we always stayed home during Pesach." Naturally there were the inevitable attractions to the surrounding gentile culture. A neighbor won Elizabeth's parents' permission to take their little girl to church with her several times. One occasion was Easter, and after becoming informed of the American custom, Dora Shrago made a frilly bonnet for Elizabeth to wear to church. "Of course the church-going came to an end," said Mrs. Freed. "My parents thought that was enough Christian influence on me.'" On another occasion Max Shrago was able to deal very effictively with syncretistic ten-
dencies in the family. It was Christmas time and he happened to be visiting his brother's family in Oskaloosa. His young nieces begged to be allowed to hang up Christmas stockings. First Mr. Shrago learned what was appropriate to put in Christmas stockings, depending on whether a child had been good or bad. "Then," said Mrs. Freed, "the stockings were hung on the fireplace just like the girls wanted. But in the morning when the girls came downstairs to see what Santa had brought them, they found big lumps of coal!" Everyone in the town of Sigourney was "very, very nice" to the new Russian immigrants, said Mrs. Freed. There was never, she said, any anti-Semitism that they were aware of. "They weren't so much struck by our being Jews," she said. "They'd heard of Jews even if they'd never actually seen any before. But we were a family of blond Jews, and they couldn't get over that!" she laughed. On Shabbos there was always a gentile friend available to light the Shrago's stove for them. "We explained our custom to them, and someone was always happy to help us out," said Mrs. Freed. The Shrago family rapidly began a process of becoming Americanized. Elizabeth and her brothers picked up English at school and tried to teach the language to their parents. They did their homework at the homes of gentile friends. Jake and Abe learned how to play baseball, football and basketball, and the three children learned how to bike, sled, ice-skate. A music teacher was engaged to give piano lessons to Elizabeth, and she played in school recitals. To this day, said Mrs. Freed, she hasn't forgotten how disappointed she felt when a case of mumps kept her from playing the part of Betsy Ross in a patriotic pageant at school. "Mother had made me a beautiful outfit," she said, "but when the swelling on one side went down in time for the pageant, I swelled up on the other!" The family became politically interested. "Dad became a Republican," said Mrs. Freed. "He always said that they might be the rich ones, but a poor man stood a better chance of getting a good job under them." A poignant story of small town friendship for the Shragos came just as World War I ended. "There was a great celebration in town on Armistice Day," said Mrs. Freed. "My parents went to it, but their hearts weren't really in it. They still didn't have their sons back with them." It turned • t £gnUnued on Page 92
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Surviving the threat of assimilation By David Bittner When Maxine (Mrs. Jack) Noodell was asked to recall her experience as a Jew living in small midwestern towns, it was the same day the popular television show "Donahue" had focused on the subject of Holocaust survivors. "That is how I regard myself, too, in a sense," said Mrs. Noodell, "as a survivor. My Jewishness survived the threat of assimilation that came from growing up in those small communities." One thing that may have prepared Mrs. Noodell to survive Jewishly in a non-Jewish environment is real Marrano blood in her veins. Her father's mother came from Bordeaux, France, a city whose Jewish community dates back to the late 1400s, when many Jews fleeing the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions settled there. Mrs. Noodell said her
French family believed they were descended from these Sephardim who did not publicly reveal their Jewish identity and begin to practice Judaism openly again until the early 1800s. The Inquisition never made it to South Dakota, but according to Mrs. Noodell, life in three small towns there still entailed surviving isolation from Judaism, resisting absorption into gentile ways, and enduring the antiSemitism of some unfriendly townspeople. Mrs. Noodell spent her first formative years in the tiny town of Milbank, South Dakota, where her father owned a women's clothing shop. "My parents liked to keep a low profile in Milbank because of anti-Semitism," she said. She said she was several times called a "dirty Jew," including once by a boy in her Continued on Page 20 Maxine Noodell
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September 26,1981
Jewish frets
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Jewish Press
Septembef 25,1981
The attraction of gentile culture Continued from Page 18
second grade class whose father was superintendent of the area's school system. "It's awful to think that a man in a very responsible position such as that was teaching his child such poison," she said. "Some of the other children used to like to chase me home after school," she recalled. "At the time I thought it was because I was short. Later on I realized they were doing it because I was Jewish." To the credit of one enlightened Methodist minister, she said, this man once delivered a sermon condemning antiSemitism. "We learned about this from gentile friends who attended his church," said Mrs. Noodell. "I believe it must have been for our benefit." The only Jewish custom Mrs. Noodell remembers her family observing during the years they lived in Milbank was due to the initiative of the only other Jewish family in town, some people named Berman, who got the idea that the two families should exchange Shalach Mones baskets on Purim. The next town where Mrs. Noodell's family moved, when her
father decided to relocate his business, was nearby Watertown, which looked to the child Maxine "like a metropolis" with all its stores, restaurants, and population of 14,000. Better yet, in Watertown there were 20 Jewish families. These families were organized, said Mrs. Noodell. They had B'nai B'rith and Hadassah chapters and got together for pot-luck dinners and bingo games. Once a month a Reform rabbi from Sioux Falls would speak to them. The children attended Sunday school in rooms made available by the Congregational Church, and Mrs. Noodell remembers Hanukkah and Purim pageants from these days. For some reason, she said, the Jewish families of Watertown never held religious services. Still, for all their attempts to live Jewishly in Watertown, the attraction of gentile culture remained strong for Maxine and the other Jewish children in town. "My non-Jewish friends tried to persuade me that their way was better," she said. "I recall one day after school when a boy told me that he wanted to be a
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missionary and convert the heathens. He asked me if I knew what was going to happen to me if I didn't go to church. I had other friends who showed me their catechisms, books, and other religious articles. I told my parents that I found it all very attractive. It was a problem for them." From Watertown, Mrs. Noodell's family moved to Yankton, South Dakota, where her father opened an army-navy surplus store. There were fewer Jews here than in Watertown, she said, but they were more religious. They went to Sioux City to attend synagogue. Each weekend, said Mrs. Noodell, the children would be packed off to Sioux, City to attend Sabbath services. On theseoccasions Maxine would stay with the cantor of the Sioux City congregation and his wife, she said. It was now for the first time in her life that she saw the inside of a synagogue. "I felt the way a convert to Judaism must feel when he becomes Jewish," said Mrs.
Noodell. "There was so much to learn." Meanwhile, in the regular Yankton home, though she recalls many friendly people, again there were occasional anti-Semitic slurs directed against the town's Jews. Mrs. Noodell recalls that on one Friday when she had to be excused from school early to make the trip to Sioux City, her art teacher said, "Why does she get to leave school early on Friday for her Jewish business?" The remark that disturbed her the most, she remembered, was made by a boy who was an intellectual type, good student, debator, popular in school, the son of a Yankton College professor. Very seriously, she said, he asked her, "Why did the Jews kill Christ?" As one might expect, Mrs. Noodell, who is active in Hadassah and Beth El Sisterhood and sings in the Beth El choir, finds she immensely enjoys her religious life in Omaha's large Jewish commmunity. "I feel lucky to be living here," she said, "with its synagogues and all its Jewish institutions. I feel that I have survived."
September 26,1961
JewtahPreM
"O Lord our God, bestow upon us the blessing of the holy festivals for life and peacei for joy and gladness..." Rosh Hashana liturgy
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September 25. 1981
Jewish Piess
In every small American town... By Ellen Gordman Jewish folklore says that in the early part of this century in every small American town lived a Jewish family who was in the scrap metal business. The folklore is exaggerated, but scattered across the country in towns like Shawnee, Oklahoma and Iron River, Michigan, there were Jewish families who owned scrap metal establishments. Our own state of Nebraska has several towns each with its Jewish family in the scrap metal business. One of these towns is Norfolk, Neb., home of Norfolk Iron and Metal Company. John Robinson, the founder of the company, came to Norfolk in 1908 to deal in hides, wool and scrap. Family history didn't record what brought him to Norfolk or how he traveled there.
Back in the early part of the century the trip from Omaha to Norfolk was made by horse and wagon, railroad or even by foot. Today the 110 miles between the two cities is covered by car in two hours. The two-lane highway winds through northeastern Nebraska which is slightly hilly, not flat like the middle of the state. Highway 275 takes the traveler through Fremont, Scribner, West Point, Wisner and Stanton before reaching Norfolk, population 20,000. Dick Robinson, executive vice-president of Norfolk Iron and Metal, was born and raised in Norfolk. He has lived there except for the four years he attended the Unversity of Arizona at Tuscon. Betti Pitlor Robinson is a resident of Norfolk since her marriage to Dick on June 6, 1976. They are the parents of twin sons, Jef-
frey and Arnold who will be four in November and six-month old son, Eva,.
Dick, who has a degree in Civil Engineering, is the third generation of his family to work in the business. His father, Arnold, was president of the company when he died seven years ago. Dicks mother, Margaret, became president and Dick officially joined the business after graduating from college. "My father gave me a choice of going into the family business or choosing another career," Dick said. "I always loved the family business and have been involved since I was young. I used to work here during the summers and part time during the school. year." In 1976 Dick came into a business that had changed considerably since 1908. Norfolk Iron and Metal Company no longer deals in hides. Today only about 30 percent of the company's business is in scrap metal with 70 percent being in new steel distribution. And the company has expanded with a new steel service center two miles northeast of Norfolk joining the trend to the industrialization of the city. Norfolk is home to manufacturing plants for 3M Co., Goodyear Tire Rubber Co. and Sherwood Medical. Along with the expansion of the industrial base the town has acquired a new three and a half million dollar YMCA, seven movie theaters and the inevitable fast food restaurants. What has not changed js the quality of living found in a small town. "The quality of life here is great. We have a very good school system, a concert program and community theater," said Dick. "We are only two hours from Omaha. Last month 20 couples chartered a bus to attend the Beach Boys Concert. What's the difference driving two hours to Omaha or two hours across a large city to a concert. "We don't have the restaurants to choose from that people in Omaha have. There is less of everything like retail stores. We don't have an orthodontist, and obstetrician or a pediatrician in town. But other than those few things living in Norfolk is just like living in Omaha." When Dick was growing up there was only one other Jewish family with children. But Dick does not think his growing up without other Jewish children was a drawback. "I was very involved in school activities, played football and wrestled. In smaller cities the students get more involved in school activities," Dick explained. Just because Dick was living in Norfolk didn't mean that his Jewish education was ignored. Every Sunday morning Margaret Robinson, Dick's mother, would teach him and his three sisters about Judaism and how to read Hebrew. Dick came into Omaha several times to study for his Bar Mitzvah with Rabbi Sidney Brooks of Temple Israel. The family celebrated Passover at home usually inviting the other Jewish family with
Four year old twins Arnold and Jeffrey.
children to join them. And the Robinsons at(Continued on Page 23)
September 25,1981
Jewish Press
Pag*23
Continued from Page 22
tended service at Temple Israel during the High Holidays. For Betti Robinson moving to Norfolk, a town with only four Jewish families was an adjustment. Although Betti had grown up in Lincoln which does not have a large Jewish population she made a conscious decision to identify with the Jewish community. "During high school I was in BBG and USY I wanted to have only Jewish friends," Betti said. "My only high school activity was
working on the yearbook. At the University of Arizona I pledged a Jewish sorority and dated onlv Jewish boys. "I do miss not being able to participate in Hadassah and Sisterhood. I am active in the Norfolk Junior Women's Club, the Catholic Hospital Auxiliary and have worked for the Cancer Society. I do feel a part of the Norfolk community. Betti and Dick make a conscious effort to keep their Jewish identity. They travel into Omaha for the High Holidays and come each year to Temple Israel for the Yahrzeit of Dick's father. When their boys were born Rabbi Brooks traveled to Norfolk to conduct thebris. For Passover if they don't go to Margaret Robinson's or to the Pitlor's in Lincoln, Betti and Dick have Seder at home. They invite three or four of their non-Jewish friends to celebrate with them. "Our non-Jewish friends look forward to having Seder with us. We conduct the service in English and explain the meaning of the holiday to them," Dick said.
Dick Robinson and wife, Betti, with children, Jeffrey and Arnold and six-month Evan.
Betti and Dick have already made plans to start their children's Jewish education when Jeffrey and Arnold start kindergarten. "We have talked to Rabbi Brooks at Temple Israel. When the time comes he is going to send us the books that we will need to teach the children at home," Betti said.
Dick Robinson in front of Norfolk Iron and Metal Co. "On Sunday mornings when the boys know their friends are in church we will study with them. I want them to learn about the holidays and customs. It will be a good review for me." "We have started talking to them about the holidays. Last year we explained Hanukkah to them. Then the whole month of December they talked about miracles. "Both Dick and I think it is important for the children to have a Jewish education. And * we hope that Arnie, Jeff and Evan will each * have a Bar Mitzvah."
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September 25,1981
It started with a horse and wagon By Bert Lewis The story of how Abe Krasne came to be born in Oakland, Neb. is an interesting insight into early Jewish settlement in this state. Abe explained, "my grandparents came to this country from Russia when my father (Israel Krasne) was about five or six years old. They moved to Fremont, and like others of his time, my grandfather peddled with horse and wagon to surrounding communities." He was well liked in Oakland, one of his regular stops and some of his customers urged him to settle there. "So," says Abe, "he moved his family." Soon the horse and wagon changed to a general store, and the family business was born. That business and the Krasne's remained an integral part of Oakland for many years to come. As a young man, Israel met an Omaha girl named Pauline Dansky, with whom he must have been very impressed. She was, of all things, a pharmacist, and worked in the old Ford Hospital in Omaha. In time they were married, and made their home in Oakland. Abe recalls that the population was around 1500, and "for a while there were a few other Jewish families, but one by one, the others left." "We observed all the Jewish holidays" Abe says, "and our home was kept strictly kosher." In fact, says Abe, "my Dad never ate trayfe". Krasne sent live poultry to Omaha for the shochet to kill, and they were returned kosher. "What was life like in Oakland? "Well," says Abe, "we got along nicely. We respected our neighbors, and they in turn, respected us". He remembers that he and his sister
Edith (now Mrs. Dave Kavich) were often invited to share the Christian festivities of their neighbors. "That was just the easy way we got along with each other." Asked if he recalled any display of antiSemitism or racial slurs, he answered "if there were, I don't remember". What he did remember was complete integration into the non-Jewish community, including the presidency of a purely Christian club, the "HiY". In 1941, after a total of 45 years in business (including the early days as a child with his father), Israel Krasne died. The family moved to Fremont soon after, and Abe, who had just completed his junior year, finished his last year of high school in his new hometown. The usual growing up proceeded, including some time working for the government. In the course of those years, Abe met Beverly Merriam of Omaha, and in 1950 they married. In the years since, the Krasne's have called Fremont home. Abe has been in the furniture business in his own store for some years, and gets along as well as he did in Oakland as a child. He has long been active in the Rotary Club, and was quick to tell me that the motto is "Service Above Self". He tells that he "teases the fellows and likes to remind them that it doesn't mean lip service". He speaks of the inter-racial understanding that is generally prevalent in Fremont, and cited a dramatic example. He told about "some talk among people in Rotary about the statements coming from the infamous Mr. Curry of Columbus - some questions apparently were being asked among them-
Right, Abe Krasne with mother, Pauline Dansky Krasne.
selves". Without Abe's knowledge, "a fellow member decided to help clear the air. He happens to be a Catholic, and a veteran of World War II. He contacted the Holocaust Survivors Group in Omaha and invited them to speak in Fremont". This man is one of the people of whom the Krasne's speak when they mention "the fine folks who belong to this community". Of course it's true they are part of a small minority, and it's also true that their political thinking is a good deal more liberal than many of their neighbors. And, Abe says "I'm a blunt man, so I must always remember tolerance when I hear somebody whose principles violate my sense of justice". For the most part, it must be okay," he says. "Our name is respected here and we do business with everyone, including churches. Bev and I have a good life here, with many good friends. We've raised our family here, and the bottom line is, Fremont is our home. It's been good to us and good for us, and we're proud to be citizens of this community "
Share The New Year in America or Israel by telephone If you live in an exchange* with directdial capability for international calls, you can call Israel without having to go through the operator. Here's how to direct-dial your call: • Dial the International Access Code-011 • Then dial the country code for Israel —972 • Then dial the city number (see below), followed by the local telephone number CODES TOR SOME CITIES IN ISRAEL: Acrr Alul.1 AKo Aihilml I'.ilUtn am shcv.i (lent BfakihcuKl O t Shrin»li Dlmona Givalalm Hadera ll.illa llcnllj
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September 25,1961
Jewish Pre
From big city to small town By Bert Lewis Within the pages of this issue are stories of Jewish families who live in small towns, and stories of Jews who were born and raised in small towns, then left. Beverly (Mrs. Abe) Krasne fits into a third category. She was born and raised in a sizable Jewish community, but has lived in Fremont since her marriage in 1950. As Beverly Merriam, daughter of Toby and Harry Merriam, she grew up-in Omaha, surrounded by Jewish people. My closest friends were Jewish - here it's the opposite" she says. "I miss my Jewish contacts, but on the other hand I've been able to make so many gentile friends. In fact, until I moved here, I never really had any non-Jewish friends". She went on to say that she thought "many of the Fremont friends had never been closely associated with any Jews before we met" concluding that perhaps this had been a good all around experience in brotherhood! Over and over she stressed the fact that "here we have a mutual respect for each other. For example, a man who has been a wonderful friend, happens to be an Episcopal priest." Among may other kindnesses, he was responsible for helping our tiny Jewish group form a proper Sunday school". She went on to explain that "some years ago, when we had a handful of small children among us, he once asked me what we were doing about our children's religion". She told him they did meet regularly at someone's house, but somehow it always seemed more "like a birthday party". He disapproved...said "they need a proper environment". He then made arrangements for the use of a room in the church, removing all symbols of Christianity, and thus provided what he felt was a "proper atmosphere". Bev says, warmly, "that's the kind of mutual respect that counts". But underneath it all, she misses such simple pleasures as being able to sit with a group of friends and "discuss what's going on in Israel. My gentile friends don't understand my feelings - how could they?" Her connection with Omaha relatives and friends is strong. She and her husband Abe, have been members of Beth El for 30 years. Their three children, Mark, 29, Terrie, 27 and Howard 22, grew up knowing that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were spent in the synagogue on 49th and Farnam. Of her children, Bev says "Mark, who is now a Californian, is totally immersed in everything Jewish. He's joined a synagogue and is very happy in his new surroundings". Daughter Terrie, who lives in Omaha and works as a real estate agent, "has made a number of Jewish friends, and has become a member of the Jewish community. Though ' she still has many non-Jewish friends, she now has a choice", says her mother. Howard, who lives in Fremont and is in the family owned furniture store with his father, answered (when asked) "I don't feel strongly one way or the other" about the subject of being Jewish, but Bev related an interesting incident which denied that statement. Several years ago, there was an ugly display of anti-semitism in Fremont, with swastikas painted on a number of buildings, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Incensed by the act, Bev says "we called the ADL people in Omaha, who came and looked over the vandalism. They concluded
that it seemed to be the work of kids, and urged that we encourage our Jewish children to keep their ears open". The advice was followed, and some months later, at a gathering of young people, Howard Krasne heard a reference to the vandalism, and name given credit. He went directly to the boy's house, though it was quite late, awakened the family, and confronted the accused, loudly and forcefully. "We heard from the boy's father soon" Bev says. "Everything including the old 'Some Of My Best Friends Are Jews business"', but the matter was settled, and she doesn't remember any more such trouble. Bev's connection with Omaha Jewry includes "Hadassah and Sisterhood membership, of course". In the next breath she tells of the "dozens of special Hanukkah cards we receive during the holdays, from our gentile friends". And of the "specially baked star
Abe and Beverly Krasne with son, Howard. cookies", presented by another or her good friends, non-Jewish that is. "Those are not for the Christmas season - they are made for Hanukkah", she proudly relates. When asked how many Jews presently . reside in Fremont, some 14 names were counted, "some families, some individuals". A small group. Then, after a quiet moment,
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Jewish Press
September 25,1981
Book reviews High Holiday law and lore Yussel's Prayer: A Yom Kippur Story. By Barbara Cohen; illustrated by Michael J. Deraney. Lothrop, Lee Shepard, 105 Madison Avenue, New York, NY. 10016. 1981. unpaginated. $7.95. (ages 4-8) Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Sweet Beginnings. By Malka Drucker; illustrated with photos and drawings by Brom Hoban. Holiday House, 18 East 53rd St., New York, NY. 10022. 1981. 93 pages. $8.95. (ages 10-11) Reviewed by Marcia Posner Jewishly-thinking adults are held captive by the majesty, poignancy, and promise of the High Holidays. We may feel their unique qualities, but it is difficult to convey our reasons to children. Fortunately, Malka Drucker does it for us in time for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In the same friendly, informative tone that characterized her two previous titles in the Jewish Holiday Series (Passover: A Season of Freedom, and Hanukkah: Eight Nights, Eight Lights), she now gives us Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Sweet Beginings. From Chapterl--("Waking Up") where the concept of birth is associated with Rosh Hashanah, through Chapters 2-6 ("Taking Aim" - a time for self-analysis; "A Fresh Continued on Page 2 8
Yussel's Prayer ,UO\I KIIWK SIOKY
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Yussel's Prayer is a welcome addition to the ever-increasing library of children's and young people's books by this talented author which'either reflect an aspect of Jewish life or reinterpret traditional stories.
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Grant peace, well-being, blessing and grace to us and unto all Israel, Thy people. -, -Rosh Hashanah liturgy
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Jewish PreM
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Jewish Press
September 26,1981
High Holiday law and lore
Continued from Page 26
Start" - a chance to start again; and ways in which children can actively participate in the holidays), Drucker works through the theme of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as a time for making choices and for finding the strength to change. She includes old lore and traditions from a broad spectrum of the Jewish People throughout history and modern innovations sure to become new traditions in time. The Appendix contains High Holy Day Prayers in English. It is followed by a Glossary, a list of Suggested Readings, and an Index. On Yom Kippur we are not only to fast and pray, but to pray with all our heart and mind, for only these prayers allow the gates of heaven to open and our prayers to enter God's presence. Both Midrashim and modern stories have been written on this theme. Drucker recalls one (p.39), and Barbara Cohen has enlarged upon the tale to create a beautiful new picture book. Yussel's Prayer is a story of the power of pure and innocent piety as opposed to the ineffectiveness of rote prayer. i Yussel, an uneducated orphan who lives in the barn of Reb Meir-the richest man in town, who sits by the eastern wall of the synagogue-is refused permission to attend shul on Yom Kippur; he must go to the fields and tend to the animals. All day long Reb Meir and his sons sit in the synagogue and
pray, but while they pray their minds are on worldly matters. Reb Meir only begins to pay attention to what is happening in the synagogue when he notices that it is long past dark, yet his rabbi has not yet concluded the prayers. What could be delaying him Meanwhile, Yussel observes Yom Kippur in his own way. He fasts all day, and when evening draws near, the untutored Yussel prays to God the only way he can-with a tune on his reed pipe. Suddenly, in the synagogue, the rabbi began to chant the Ne'lah prayers, signalling the end of the service, his face suffused with joy. At last a prayer was said that was holy enough to open the gates of heaven. You can guess whose it was. Many children's book illustrators have drawn their interpretation of the shtetl in recent years. Michael J. Deraney's beautifully modeled and textured drawings provide us glimpses of the vast forest, plains, and rivers beyond the closely spaced houses with their steep pitched roofs and narrow lanes. The expressions shown on the faces of the village's inhabitants speak volumes. He shows us the world without and the world within'the shtetl -the rich house among the poor, social class distinctions, and the struggle for yechus (honor) which were so much a part of shtetl life. In so extending the text he helps Cohen to keep the shtetl from becoming a cliche. Particularly moving are the illustrations of Reb Meir's moment of self-revelation, which have > a mystical, surreal quality not unlike the art of Maurice Sendak.
The Jew of Malta, by Christopher Marlowe. University Press. 207 p. The fullest available account of the sources of the play is given, with some fresh evidence relating to Marlowe's knowledge of Mediterranean history, and new light is thrown on Elizabethan Machiavellianism. Images From the Bible. New York. Overlook Press. 1980 109 p. In this splendid example of the bookmaker's biblical takes are portrayed in the counterpoint of Sholom's paintings and Elie Wiesel's writing. The Jewish Woman in Judaism, by Solomon Appleman. New York. Exposition 1979.141 p. This is a clear and candid statement of the true status of women in Jewish life. Written by a young rabbi of a large suburban congregation. Henry Ford and the Jews, by Albert Lee. New York. Stein & Day. 200 p. Most people know Henry Ford as the great industrialist who brought mass production and the automobile to people. He was also a Jew-Hater and used his economic power to discredit Jewry in the United States and Europe. Letters to My Israeli Sons. New York. Franklin Watts. 276 p. by Reid Banks. A non-Jew married to an Israeli, Banks makes history vivid as she traces the Jewish people from Biblical times to the modern day. Only by describing the Diaspora, The Holocaust and other events can one explain the problems of modern Israel. The Half Jew. by Robert Beauvais. New York. Taplinger Publishing Co. 1980. 262 p. This masterly novel, a brilliant blend of high humor and deep emotion, is the haunting tale of young Jean-Jacques Benoit, who grew up in occupied France and whose life is forever marked by the schisms of his time. The Joy Still Felt: The Autobiography of Isaac Aslmov, 195401978. by Isaac Asimov. New York. Doubleday & Co. 1980 798 p. In this volume of his autobiography Asimov explains just how he became a space age phenomenon. He shares both public and private moments with sincertiy and charming modesty. Continued on Page 92
HAPPY NEW YEAR . . . for the girl who wears * a little "klass" with her "kute."
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Jewish Press
September 25,1981
Old-fashioned values By David Bittner "Simplicity, honesty," and other oldfashioned values are the kind of small town heritage that Mickey (Mrs. Donald L.) Sturm is proud and grateful to have received as she grew up in Storm Lake, Iowa. "For either Jews or gentiles," said Mrs. Sturm, "living in a small town with its unpretentious, honest people gives them a better understanding of human beings and the whole human experience." Mrs. Sturm's family was a well-respected one in the town of Storm Lake, population 8,500. Her father, Harry Rabiner, was an auto parts and scrap iron dealer, and belonged to the local Elks' lodge. Mrs. Sturm herself was a member of the young women's auxiliary of Eastern Star called Rainbow Girls. Of all the old-fashioned kinds of fun she had growing up, she said, one of the most pleasant memories she has is that of detassling corn in the summertime with her friends. "We got fired because we talked more than we detassled, but we had a good time!" she laughed. She also had memories of anti-Semitic incidents as she grew up, said Mrs. Sturm, but added that it would not be "productive" to dwell on these at this point in her life. "Besides," said Mrs. Sturm, "I think most anti-Semitism is neither hatred nor hostility, but simply ignorance. For example, when I started dating in high school it was with boys who'd been to college and had come back home more open-minded than when they left." A lack of religious and educational outlets, and assimilation are things that Mrs. Sturm listed among the more serious disadvantages of small town life for Jews.
"Our home was not religious," said Mrs. Sturm. "The only Jewish custom I can remember my parents observing is the lighting of Yahrzeit candles. We got only a minimal exposure to formal religion when we went to the synagogue in Fort Dodge or Sioux City on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. My three sisters and I never learned Hebrew and we missed not being confirmed." No kind of Jewish reading material ever came into the home, said Mrs. Sturm. "It was not until I went to college that I really found out about the Holocaust. I don't have any recollections about the birth of Israel being discussed in our home, either." "We couldn't turn to other Jews in town," Mrs. Sturm continued, "because besides ourselves there were only an intermarried couple and an elderly German Jewish professor at the local college. I think the thing that most helped us keep our Jewishness alive was the frequent gatherings of family from Fort Dodge." Mrs. Sturm said she considered her family fortunate to have escaped assimilation in Storm Lake. "That my sisters and I eventually all were able to meet and marry Jewish men was remarkable," she said. What of life in the big city? Mrs. Sturm spoke of a sense of "feeling different" during her years growing up in Storm Lake, and said this gradually grew into a heightened consciousness of Jewishness as she settled into life in Omaha with its large Jewish community. "I suppose it's an enigma to some people how a girl from a small town could become as active as I've been in Omaha,"said Mrs. Sturm, who served in 1977 as co-chairman of
Mickey Sturm the UJA- Women's Division Fund-raising Campaign and in 1979 as its chairman, and has also been very active in Temple Israel Sisterhood and Hadassah. "I'd like to explain it." "It was in high school that I realized I was different, " she said. "Having a part in the mainstream of extracurricular life eluded me, and I wondered why, It was then that the idea of 'difference' struck me. "Later on, this special difference I felt made me realize I wanted to assume the responsibility to help and improve the quality of Jewish life wherever I was. I felt that I was my brother's keeper and that Jews must be united. I knew I was supposed to make our difference meaningful, and this was my motivation to become committed to Jewish work and Jewish causes. That was why I took advantage of the opportunities here to become involved/'
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Pag* 32
Jewish Press
September 25,1981
The rise and decline of a Jewish community By David Bittner The increasingly small Jewish community of Council Bluffs will make its New Year's supplications in an almost empty synagogue this Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Few Jews live in Council Bluffs today. B'nai Israel Synagogue, built to hold 500 worshipers, now serves from 25 to 30 families. Many of the young people of the community have moved away, or attend services at Omaha synagogues. Retired grocer Sam Sacks is the mainstay of the congregation in its dying days. Because of his scholarship in Yiddish and Hebrew and the Orthodox ritual, Mr. Sacks leads minyans twice weekly and conducts Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. This year at High Holy Days services he will be assisted by Rabbi Allan Gonsher, director of Jewish Family Services of Omaha. Interviewed at his home recently and asked what he "did", Mr. Sacks said, "You want to know what I do Here are my tallis and tephillin, that's what I do. Every Saturday and Sunday I lead a minyan at the shul. We manage to read from the Torah every week." Though he remains very Orthodox personally, Mr. Sacks said that over the years the services in the synagogue have become liberalized. "Men and women sit together in the sanctuary now," he said, "and so few people understand Hebrew any more that we have lots of responsive readings in English that I lead." Mr. Sacks in not optimistic about the future of B'nai Israel. "We're thinking of liquidating the shul now and selling our Sefer Torahs and keeping just one for ourselves which we could use in a rented hall sometimes." he said. The well-being of the shul's Torahs are one of Mr. Sacks' main worries. "There's so much thievery around these days that sometimes at night I lay awake in bed worrying about them." he said. "I check with the janitor and look in on them myself several times during the week." Mr. Sacks has already disposed of one Torah the congregation used to own by donating it to a new conservative synagogue in Beersheva, Israel, which in turn made Mr. Sacks an honorary member of its congregation. "I am a man not of words, but deeds," said Mr. Sacks, and pointed with pride to plaques and certificates hanging on the walls of his den. Mr. Sacks has been the recipient of awards from the U.J.A., the Council Bluffs Jewish Federation, the Dr. Philip Sher Home, and B'nai Israel Synagogue. The Editorial Board of Community Leaders of America has given Mr. Sacks its Community Leader of America award, and Sertoma named him "Outstanding Foreign-born Citizen" of 1972. Hadassah and Mizrachi have made him an honorary member of their all-female ranks. The energetic Mr. Sacks is 83, and that means he's been around to witness a lot of Council Bluffs Jewish history. Still, though, neither he nor anyone else goes back far enough to be able to fill in many facts about the very beginnings of the old community.
general store. Shortly after, they were joined by the families of H. Moser, F. Friedman, S. Eisman, F. Hirschberg, A. Goldstein, and L. Harris. Chiefly of German and Austrian descent, these pioneers were refugees from political and economic crises in their native lands. They established a Reform Hebrew Society in 1882. Its first officers were Benjamin Newman, G.G. Mossier and Simon Eisman. They led the Society to purchase land for a cemetery, solemnly dedicated as the Jewish Cemetery of Council Bluffs. The Reform Jews worshipped in whatever meeting places were available. Early locations were the Danish Hall and the Grand Army Hall. Soon, however, they dedicated a used building on North Seventh Street as Temple Emanuel. Rabbi Frederick Cohn of Omaha conducted two services weekly in it. Eventually the building was sold to the Swedish Baptist Church and the Society was disbanded. Meanwhile, in 1881, Jews were beginning to come to Council Bluffs from Russia, where horrible pogroms were in progress. Twenty-five of these persons in that year established the Orthodox congregation Bikur Cholim, which held services in a tiny rented brick building on Main Street. The incorporators and officers of the congregation were N. Drolich, president, and Abraham Marks, vice-president. Realizing the need for a burial ground, representatives of Bikur Cholim arranged in 1887 to buy a section of the Reform Society's Jewish Cemetery. Since then one section of the cemetery has been used for Reform burials, and the other for Orthodox burials. Among the Russian Jews were merchants, tailors, laborers, junkmen and peddlers. They included Julius Cherniss. S. Friedman. L.S. Bergman, J. Stein.S. Namen, L. Rosenfield, N. Solomon, and H. Gilinsky. Their congregation is now gone and its members all have rested in peace for 50 years or more. The present Orthodox congregation B'nai Israel was incorporated in 1903 by Isaac Gilinsky, George Whitebook, M. Frieden, M. Solomon, B. Gilinsky, Samuel Snyder, E. Pill and M. Marcus. The congregation had a membership of 14. The disbanded Reform Society gave the new congregation its Sefer Torah and its treasury of $900. In 1904 the new congregation was able to construct a frame building Continued on Page 76
The first known Jews in Council Bluffs arrived in town in the 1850s. They were Sol Bloom, A.B. Newman and Henry Eisman. Bloom established a clothing store, Newman a dry goods store, and Eisman a
B'nai Israel Synagogue
Saul Suvalsky, left, and Sam Sacks.
September 26,1961
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Jewijh Press
September 25.1981
Three generations... going on four David and Betty Kavich
Kavich's has been here for 84 years. By Hillel Bromberg In the middle of downtown Fremont, Neb, stands Kavich's furniture store. It has been standing on that same spot for 84 yearslonger than any other store of its kind in the area. The present owners, David and Betty Kavich.are the third generation of that family to own the store. Their son Rick is also in the business and will take over in his time. Sometimes known as "Mr. Fremont", David Kavich is an active member of the Shriners and has been the advisor of the DeMolays, the Shriners' boy's
group for 16 years. He is also the chairman of the Downtown Improvement District and was appointed by the governor to the district's judicial selection committee. In case that isn't enough, Mr. Kavich also wears the hat of the president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and directs the Senior Chamber of Commerce.
longer.
Fremont's Beth Israel Synagogue, but by the time Rick turned 13, they had to celebrate such simchas in Omaha.
Betty Kavich, too, is involved in civic and Jewish organizations, aside from her long hours at the In honor of Rick's Bar Mitzvah, furniture store. She is a member of the Kavich's furnished the new the Fremont Women's club and youth lounge at Beth El. the Daughters of the Nile, She sadly recalled the demise of Fremont's chapter of Hadassah. They said that the Jewish life in Fremont is rather quiet but that the city is "understanding of "The older women got too old minorities." They are presently His Jewish involvements are no for that sort of thing," she said, members of Temple Israel in less impressive: member of the "and the younger people weren't Omaha. The town of Fremont, Neb. board of Beth Israel Synagogue of interested in keeping it going." lies 35 miles to the West of Omaha. Fremont and active member and It has a total population of apformer president of Fremont's proximately 24,000 of whom 17 are The Kavich's older son Larry B'nai B'rith Lodge. Neither of those Jewish. became a Bar Mitzvah at institutions is in existence any
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September 25.1981
lam glad to be in Omaha Fridrikh Begelmakher leads a class... By Ellen Gordman
demonstrates...
For Jews living in Russia there is little freedom to learn about Judaism, celebrate the holidays and follow the traditions of the religion. For this reason each year thousands of Jews try to leave Russia for the United States or Israel. One of the fortunate people to leave Russia is Fridrikh Begelmakher. The lithe, bearded Russian is the new Ballet Master and Resident Choreographer of the Omaha Ballet. Fridrikh has been in the United States for four years. He has a good command of the English language and speaks with only a slight Russian accent. Fridrikh, a native of Odessa, grew up in a home with some Jewish atmosphere. His grandparents spoke Yiddish and his family fasted on Yom Kippur. And there was Fridrikh s grandfather who practiced Jewish rituals in private. "My grandfather was a very interesting personality," Fridrikh said. "He was a member of the Communist party. But on major Jewish holidays he would find some quiet place like in a storage room, put on his tallis and say the prayers. He was from a little shtetl and he knew all of the rituals. But he never passed them on to me." In addition to being denied religious freedom, Jews in Russia are also subject to anti-Semitism. According to Fridrikh anti-Semitism comes from the government and media to the people. "I was brought up in schools where the children are taught there Continued on Page 68
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Jewish Press
September 25,1981
The Rahmanisof Red Oak time they had come to establish themselves in this country. The Hertzel and Janet first time was in 1974, Rahmani arrived in the United States from but they stayed for just one year. Israel a year and a They chose this half ago, hoping to area in order to be settle in Omaha with near Mrs. Rahmani's their son Ophir, parents, Paul and eight,and daughter Charlotte Miner of Laura, four. Elliot, Iowa. It was the second By Hillel Bromberg
PHOTOGRAPH!
STaoi
In Israel, Mr. Rahmani was a freelance photographer who worked in advertising, journalism and weddings. He was also a security officer at the Tiberias Plaza Hotel, where he was later made night manager. Upon arriving in Omaha, the Rahmanis went to Jewish Family Service for help in finding employment. There were no openings in any area related to photography, so Mr. Rahmani trained as a drug store manager. This arrangement did not work out and the Rahmanis moved to Red Oak, Iowa two months later where Mr. Rahmani found work in a Douglas and Lomason plant. In addition, he opened a private studio, HR Photography, and began photographing weddings and doing
Hertzel and Janet Rahmani and children, Laura and Ophir.
portraits. Mrs. Rahmani,trained as a social worker, is now employed writing abstracts for property sales. The Rahmanis said that they are disturbed at not being able to give their children a proper Jewish education.
"We wanted to be near the JCC and the synagogues for the kids," said Mr. Rahmani. "The'Jewish holidays are coming and going and we're missing them." The Rahmanis hope to visit Israel next year to* see Mr. Rahmani's family and friends. "I do miss
Israel. I had a good business there and I miss my family," Mr. Rahmani commented. Mr. Rahmani is also looking into buying a photography shop in Tiberias, in which case the family would once again return to Israel-this time, perhaps, permanently.
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Page 40
Jewish Press
September 25,1981
One man's scrap is another's treasure By Ellen Gordman Columbus, Nebraska, population 18,000, is 90 miles from Omaha. Although Columbus is one of the numerous small towns of Nebraska, the city looks suprisingly like Omaha. The main thoroughfare of Columbus, 23rd street, looks like any major street in Omaha. A four lane concrete street is flanked on each side by buildings housing local businesses and a myriad of fast food restaurants. Downtown Columbus looks like it belongs to the 1950s. A long metal awning covers one of the sidewalks to protect the shoppers from the unpredictable Nebraska weather. There are two movie theaters and retail stores selling merchandise from clothing to jewelry to greeting cards. There isn't an empty storefront in the six block downtown. Facing the middle of the downtown streets is the town square. Old trees cast shade over the lush green grass. In the middle of the square is a tall granite marker dedicated to the soldiers killed in the War Between the States. The names etched in the stone have been aged by changing Nebraska seasons. Bob and Sylvia Jacobs have lived in Columbus since July 1961 when Bob bought a scrap iron business from Sam and Edna Blatt. Before that, Lincoln was home for the family. The Jacobs have five children but now only their sons, Sam and Larry, live in Columbus. Sam works in the family business. Larry is a senior in high school. Bob, Sylvia and Sam can be found on a work day at Columbus Metal Industries. The scrap yard is located on the eastern edge of the town next to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Business is conducted from a two room office located in the corner of a large metal building that houses expensive scrap metal. The office is utilitarian with linoleum floors, metal desks and of course the phones that are vital for conducting business all over the country. A touch of Jewish flavor is present in the matzah box and macaroon can perched on the edge of Bob's crowded desk. They are left over from the last Passover and provide Bob with munching food when he gets hungry during the day. Bob and Sylvia are happy living in Columbus and think life in a small town is Utopia. "I was born and raised in Milwaukee and lived in other large cities. I love small towns," said Bob.
"You're somebody in a small town and not just a pea in a pod as in a big city. As you walk down the street in Columbus people will say hello and they could be strangers. You can't find this reception in larger cities of our country. "In Columbus, a person has a chance to get involved in organizations. A club might have only 200 members so everybody gets a chance to be active and be an officer. It's not like Omaha where the Masons might have 2000 members." Sylvia concurred about the quality of life in a small town. "I know most of my neighbors. And the city does have cultural activities. We have opera, symphony and plays. Jan Peerc'e, Robert Merrill and Fred Waring have even sung in Columbus. '"If we want to see a play or some other cultural activity we can always travel into Omaha. It's only an hour and a half drive." Driving an hour and a half to see a play might sound unusual to Omahans who are used to getting from here to there in under a half hour. "But it's not that far," said Sam. "People in Los Angeles drive an hour and a half to go places all the time. "I drive every Sunday to Omaha to race my stock car at Sunset Speedway. And 1 travel all over the state and also into Missouri. . As far as Bob and Sylvia are concerned the only drawback to living in Columbus is the small size of the Jewish community. There are only eight Jewish families. "I miss going to synagogue on Friday night and Saturday morning. We do go to Lincoln for the High Holidays and for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs," Bob said. "I missed not having Sunday School and a Hebrew School," Sylvia said. "Even without a school we gave our children a Jewish education. I taught them to read Hebrew. And we drove into Lincoln for each of the children to have Bar or Bat Mitzvah training." There are five children in the Jacobs family. Ivan and JoAnn Jacobs live in St. Paul with their sons, Aaron and David. Mike and Ann Jacobs and their children, Mindy and Joey, live in Overland Park, Kansas. Home for Elayne and Jim Campbell, Benjamin and Suzanne is Hedrick, Iowa. Sam and Sue Jacobs live in Columbus as does Larry who still lives at home with his parents.
Two of the Jacobs children married Jewish people while two of the children married out of the religion. Bob and Sylvia Jacobs are accepting of their children's choices of spouses. They don't blame their living in Columbus as a factor in the mixed marriages. They acknowledge that intermarriage takes place even when families live in cities with large Jewish populations. "We don't have any regrets. I don't care who my children married as long as they are menches," explained Bob. "With so many divorces today if the children are happy that is the best there is." Sam married a Catholic girl three years ago. As yet they have no children. "If we do have children they will be raised in the Catholic religion. But I do want them to know Judaism," Sam said. Larry Jacobs, the youngest and only unmarried child in the family, leads the minyan in Columbus so prayers can be said when someone dies. He has affiliated with USY at Beth El Synagogue in Omaha and comes in for club activities about once a month. Last summer Larry spent six weeks in Israel with the Omaha Youth pilgrimage. "I think it is important to identify as a Jew," Larry said. "Being in Israel helped me to understand more about Judaism." For Bob and Sylvia carrying on the Jewish traditions means infusing their home with a feeling of Judaism. On the walls of the large combination living-dining room are several Jewish needlepoint pieces that Sylvia carefully created. A metal shalom hangs on the family room wall. "When the children were growing up we made sure they understood why we celebrated the holidays," said Sylvia. "If we didn't show them what our parents did and what we did how could they carry on the tradition?" Sylvia keeps a kosher home with meat sent up from Omaha once a month by bus. Her large country kitchen has room for many sets of dishes including Passover dishes with Continued on Page 41 Bob Jacobs has leftover Passover matzah and macaroons on his desk for snacking.
Sylvia Jacobs keeps two tote bags filled with her teaching tools.
Larry Jacob's spent six weeks in Israel this past summer. His parents saw him off from the Omaha airport.
September 25,1981
Jewish Press
Pag*41
We wish everyone a year of good health, contentment and peace. Eddie Ginsberg & Family Ben Nachman & Family The Jacobs held seder for 27 this past Passover.
Continued from Page 40
enough place settings for 35 people. Sylvia needs that many dishes to accommodate the large number of people she has in her home each year for the Seder. "It's really a community Seder. The women help with the cooking, setting thctable and other preparations," Sylvia said. Each year, Sylvia spends many hours talking to non-Jewish groups in Columbus about the Jewish religion. In,one of her large kitchen closets are two tote bags filled wih her teaching tools. Among the items are a tallis, a Hagaddah, a mezzuah, a beginning Hebrew instruction book, and a set of coins from Israel.
ME4T PROCESSORS
Continued on Page 42
New Year Greetings May there be Peace in our hearts, Love for our neighbor, And a Prayer for the good yet to be done. Bobbie and Bob Epstein Jeff, Elizabeth and Melissa
We extend to our many friends and customers our best wishes for a . healthy and happy New Year
N. Pitlor&Son Mechanical Contractors, Norman and Rose Pitlor Don and Judi Moore Steve and Marcia Pitlor
I Pag* 42
September 25. 138!
Jewish Ptesi
One man's scrap... Continued from Page 41
"I've talked to almost every church group, woman's group and Sunday school class in just about every church in town," Sylvia said. "I tell them about the customs and holidays. I don't go into theology but tell people how we
Sam Jacobs in the garage.
observe being Jewish in our home."
and Sisterhood. The family contributes to the Jewish Federation of Lincoln each year.
Although living away from an organized Jewish community Bob and Sylvia Jacobs do not have a sense of isolation. Bob belongs to B'nai B'rith, Sylvia is a member of Hadassah
"We have an obligation," Bob said. "We don't cut ourselves off from the Jewish community just because we live out here."
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Jewish Press
September 25.1981
Our small town experience By Bert Lewis
I never got over it - the wonder of looking through the living room window and seeing a snow-capped mountain! Such was our view 33 years ago, when my husband, baby and I settled in a small community in the state of Washington. The town was named Longview, and had a population of perhaps 20,000. It was a young community, founded by a lumber company in the 1920s, and was connected by a bridge over the Cowlitz River, to older Kelso, which was about the same size. We had moved to the Pacific northwest in the belief that this area would be just the place to open Leonard's law practice. The law career is incidental to the story however. I would rather share some memories of what it was like for us to live in that small town as
Jews. There were about 14 Jewish families, living and conducting business between the two towns. These included the usual furniture, clothing, grocery and jewelry stores, and even the inevitable pawn shop. Oddly, no doctors or other "professionals'.' The age span was from middle 20s to late 60s. We were young, just starting out, and were welcomed with open arms to the tiny ethnic group. They worked hard to retain their Yiddishkeit in this place with no synagogue or center of any kind. At the time I never thought of them as clannish, but in retrospect, I realize they (we) did tend to stick together! They socialized generally, as one big family might, and though there was some
Nobody talks about; the >'iron icuf- IT "CANT; HAPPEN AGAIN iF WE/ tain" nowadaysjButtasW anyone; ••DON'TLEABN FROIyl HISTORY;: ^ who escaped;: from? countries f Write'Your Congressman >; : J trapped behind the -''iron curtain"} «Your Senator,and;your-., Representative.'fn> and you will hear horror reports be- the House read mail from homo and vyiir. yond be\ie1-.i;:;y'-''^%/M:::^v>y%!;:y-\;;eac|toit.:Write;ioday;; •vV;/?yV . -s ;v?' r; ; / ! Senator Edward Zorinsky;
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N a m e a c o u n t r y ; .'vwftfci^tv;?;, ^AXS •;Vv;uand Senator J a m e s ExqnVv"ivH.fi"o;; ; i<!'•-':'•"•:'-^ t h e h o r r o r i s t h e s a m e . v : ; : • : ' : ; : ?•;';;;; j U . S , S e n a t e ' > ' ; ' y . - ; ; ; ^ ftH Washington. D.C. 20510;; ;f:"•; '; First it is the "invasion" by Russian ^ C o n g r e s s m a n Hal Daubi.-'V-- -'<'.• ::-v: • ;v military might in the guise of being Long worth B\dg::S ;; "liberators."; Then thef political; ) ;s ; 51008 I: Washington, D;c;20515 ;:^;1
commissars come in and take overi Congressman Douglas B e r e u t e r ? sstablishingv totalitarian; i govern; 1314 Lorigworth Bldg. i ' ments. That's it. »The local govern-; •i. > : W a s h i n q t o n . p . C . 20515 i S' •; ment is "liquidated" and the Rus-v sian puppet government takes over;; :Write to Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin; ;; ;• -v £:••.••!. '•• '--'••; Country after country has fallen to ;;u ; Vv Ariatbly ' E m b a s s y of the USSR; i ; '; this brutalization; Itis history^it is^ V >; ;1125- 16th Street N.W; ^ '" : : : : A;; Washington. D . C / 2 0 0 3 6 : J :; fact. •/• :~: MW*^: '^ * <--^,':'^
The COMMITTEE FORiSOVIETJEWRY: was formed in 1974 as abranch of the JewishI Federation of Omaha. The goal of the COMMITTEE is to improve conditions for Jews in the Soviet Union and to promote the emigration of Soviet Jews who seek to establish homes elsewhere.' The COMMITTEE, an affiliate of the National Union of Councils for Soviet Jewry, serves a n : educational function by publicizing the; plight ;of, Soviet, Jews and other oppressed people: and seeks to rally the support of localcitizens for political action on behalf of Soviet Jewry.
years, and I still correspond with a dear woman who, with her husband, took us in to their home and hearts as though we were their own children. Each Seder spent in Washington was at their table...where we felt completelyW home. Years later, when our eldest The nearest large city was Por- child celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, tland, Oregon, some 30 miles away. these lovely people traveled to Omaha to share our simcha. This was where the few who observed kashruth traveled regularly to obtain meat and other In many ways, it was not the necessities for a kosher house. most perfect time of our lives, those years in Washington. It was, Daily religious practice had to "city kids", something of a been known to the elders of the culture shock, to transplant to such an environment. We couldn't afford group, but because they were so few in number it was necessary to much, in contrast to most of our drive to Portland if one chose to be new friends, and we were a long way from our own loved ones. part of a minyan. They had the required number, but not the required dedication. (Today's acBut on the other hand, there ceptance of women in the minyan, were good times enjoyed in somebody's living room, just as by the conservative branch of Judaism, was of course unheard of visiting, in those days when people still sat and talked to each other! I, in 1948.) as a young and inexperienced mother, knew I had good people I Naturally, it was understood that if a boy were approaching Bar could discuss any problem with, Mitzvah age, his mother drove him and often did. to his instructors in Portland We left Longview and returned several times a week. And when the big day came, the rite was held to Omaha (for a variety of reasons) after three years. Had we in the synagogue in Portland. remained, and raised our family Soon after our arrival in town, there, our kids could not have somebody decided it would be the known a life with numerous Jewish perfect time to form a Sunday friends, nor would they have had School class for the few young contact with Jewish clubs and children. I was asked to teach the groups, which played such an imclass, and subsequently did. I portant part in their growing up suspect this brought feelings of years. Hebrevv and Sunday School both comfort and relief; comfort would not have been so readily acthat the Sh'ma was being taught to cessible, and in general, Jewish life the little ones, and relief that as we know it would not have been somebody didn't have to drive to so matter-of-fact. Portland early Sunday morning! Since both my husband and I Although, to be fair about it, I had been raised in such an athave to say that whoever made the mosphere, I'm not sure how we drive had the undying gratitude of would have adapted to the small the others, since the car always town situation for our children. returned loaded with deli and We've all heard "you don't miss bakery goodies. whatyou never had" but I wonder how much you miss what was once Our small town didn't have any as natural as the sunrise? I shops which sold those favorites, I though certain ethnic foods were in Since it's so difficult to answer I plentiful supply. A large perhypothetical questions, we'll never Icentage of the population was of really know. Nonetheless, we'll I Norwegian descent, and if you always have a warm spot in our loved lutefisk, you were in luck. hearts and memories for our small Not pastrami and corned beef, nor town experience. fresh pumpernickel, but strong, smelly concoctions that didn't temOh yes. You might be interested | pt a Yiddish palate! to know that the snow capped mountain visible from the living room window was (the now in, We lived in Longview a long famous) Mount St. Helens! It was a I time ago, so I probably have •forgotten much about our life there. well behaved mountain then. I But I do recall some things very We knew only its great beauty [clearly. I remember specifically and often enjoyed the mirror clear [that we were conscious of a strong lakes formed by the run-off of its I feeling of being Jewish, and that I we formed warm bonds with each snow. business competition, they got along well together. If illness or trouble struck one family, the others knew and responded instantly. A simcha was treated the same way • all rejoiced for and with each other.
I other.
One of the friendships was strong enough to endure all these
And I still remember how lovely it looked...framed by my picture window, all those years ago.
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September 25,1961
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Story of a shul
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By David Bittner In 1970 in Madison, Wis., the owners of a synagogue built during the Civil War and used for a multiplicity of purposes after being abandoned by its congregation announced plans to destroy the old structure. The threat of destruction turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to the Old Synagogue, as it was known in town. With the help of interested government agencies, friends of the city's historic buildings organized a non-profit group called Gates of Heaven, Inc.—a translation of the synagogue's Hebrew name Share Shomayimto collect funds for the moving and restoration of the temple, fourth oldest surviving synagogue building in the United Sates. Today, fully restored, complete with him ah, a choir loft, and a 100year-old ark from the'former building of an old Milwauke congregation, the Old Synagogue stands in an honored spot in James Madison Park on the shores of Madison's Lake Mendota. Here is the story of the synagogue and the short-lived congregation of German Jews in the then small town of Madison who built it. The synagogue in James Madison Park is a small buildingonly 28 by 54 feet-made of Wisconsin sandstone and buff brick. Working from photographs, New York Times art editor Ada Louise Huxtable identified its architecture as Rundbogenstil, a 19th century German architectural style combining Romanesque and Baroque motifs
and characterized by the use of rounded arches. The facade, however, is pure Spanish Mission, and it is hard to help noticing that little markings above the windows resemble crosses. Basically, the little synagogue is the legacy of a congregation that failed. Most of the 17 German immigrant families who built it in 1863 deserted Madison during the 1870s for larger cities, and no Jews of the congregation's liberal leaning immediately came to take their place. To be sure, many Jews started coming to Madison in the 1880s from Russia, but any idea of coalition wtth these Orthodox Ostjuden was out of the question for the remnants of Gates of Heaven. They preferred death. The congregation was founded in 1856, five years after its first president, Samuel Klauber, became the first Jew to arrive in Madison. Its members were mostly local merchants who took an active part in the life of the community. They were Elks, Masons, Odd Fellows, and belonged to all the German clubsTurn Verein, for example. Samuel Klauber's two daughters were charter members of the Madison Women's Club. In 1862 the congregation tired of meeting for services in the homes of members and hired August Kutzbock, architect of the Wisconsin State Capitol and Madison City Hall, to draw up plans for a synagogue. In raising the $4,000 projected cost of the building, the congregation had the help of two Madison banks and many well-wishers outside the community, including the same Milwaukee congregation whose Continued on Page 4 7
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After debating whether to cut new stones for the facade or patch up the original stones with sandstone-colored stucco, the second alternative was chosen in order to protect the stone's integrity. Otherwise, said restorationists, the synagogue would have become like Abraham Lincoln's axe: "You know-it's his axe, but the handle's been replaced twice, and the blade three, times."
September 25,1981
Jewish Press
Page 47
The original choir loft of the Old Synagogue was gutted in 1951 to make room for more office space in the building. By following the pattern of beam holes in the walls, rcstorationists were able to reconstruct the choir loft fairly accurately. Tell-tale pipes indicated where gas lamps once hung oh the walls. Continued from Page 46
vintage 1850 ark has ended up as a gift in the Gates of Heaven Synagogue a century later. Construction of the temple began in May 1863 and was completed in time for the High Holy Days in September. Over that summer the members of the congregation met a number of times to decide what sort of services would be held in the synagogue. This was not a simple matter, because the congregation was split between those who favored the American reform service and those who preferred the less liberal German reform service. Compromise between the two parties led to the hammering out of a hybrid ritual: at the same time the congregation decided on mixed seating of men and women, uncovered heads, and melodeon music, it also agreed to continue the practice of having seven men recite blessing over the Torah, to celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday, and to have the cantor face the ark instead of the congregation. Seating in the synagogue was regulated by the wealth and prominence of the members. This we know from later records of the congregation which mention a vote to have one of the two stoves in the sancutary moved. Both originally were up front and it got so hot there that the prestigious front pews were actually bringing in less revenue than pews in the middle and the back of the sanctuary. Just a few days before Rosh Hashanah the synagogue was consecrated by a Milwaukee rabbi. The ceremony, as reported in the Wisconsin State Journal, was the perfect picture of a 19th century reform Judaism whose major goal
was to show the gentile community that Jews were not "different." Invitations had been sent to the governor, the mayor, the justices of the state supreme court, and the city's clergy, so that "quite a number of gentiles were present as curious spectators." The service began as Samuel Klauber opened the door of the temple for a procession of the members. As they filed in, ladies preceding gentlemen, a Gentile choir under the direction of Prof. A. Pickarts sang Hebrew chants. "The Rev. Mr. Falk" then entered the sanctuary, and after "uttering some prayers in the Hebrew tongue," acquainted the State Journal reporter and all the other curious gentiles "with some facts in regard to Judaism which they were wholly unfamiliar."
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• "It seems," the reporter said, "that the spirit of the age has entered the Jewish church and modified its rituals and its ideas...Mr. Falk explained that Judaism, in its modern phase, does not look for the literal restoration of the Jews to Palestine, this prophecy being regarded by the reform Jewish church as figurative and only to be fulfilled in some mystical sense...prayers for the restoration ~ are now omitted from their ritual and the ritual itself greatly shortened." The service took its calculated effect: the reporter could not help observing in the last paragraph of his story that "with the exception that the speaker made no reference to Christ, and that all his biblical quotations were from the Old Testament...it was not unlike a service which might have been held on a similar occasion in a Continued on Page 58
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September 25,1981
Four decades of doctoring in Clarinda
1
By David Bittner A German-born Jewish physician who lived and practiced in a small Iowa town for over four decades looked back on his life and career there a year after moving to Omaha to "take it easier" in the big city. Dr. Hans Frenkel was graduated from the medical school of the University of Muenster, Germany in 1933. He did his residencies in internal medicine and cardiology at the University of Cologne, Germany, had a one-year fellowship at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and took advantage of an assignment to London by the University of Cologne in 1935 to leave Germany for good. "I was never molested myself by the Nazis," said Dr. Frenkel, "but I knew it was just a question of time before the Holocaust must happen." From London Dr. Frenkel went to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he studied for and took his basic science boards. Revolted by the treatment of blacks in the south, which reminded him of the Jews' situation in Germany, he
thereafter headed north to Clarinda, Iowa when he learned of an opening in a new hospital there for an internist and cardiologist. Dr. Frenkel practiced internal medicine and cardiology in Clarinda, population 8,000, from 1937-1980. "The hospital in Clarinda serves an area of 35,000 people," said Dr. Frenkel. "The quality of medicine there when I first arrived was very poor. The other doctors were poorly trained old men who served mainly as dispensers of medicine. The whole medical system of the community had to be revamped. A young surgeon came with me to Clarinda and we gradually turned a 35-bed, understaffed hospital into an 80-bed hospital with a good staff including specialists in family practice, neurosurgery and radiology." In 1966 Dr. Frenkel started the first coronary care unit in a community hospital in Iowa. Dr. Frenkel said he never felt himself to be the object of any anti-Semitism in Clarinda, the home of six Jewish families including his own at the time he lived there. "I had a
How it was... with organizations By Bert Lewis Those of you who complain about numerous committee meetings and board meetings and club meetings that cut into your free time these days, probably believe that Omaha is saturated with clubs and organizations. I'm here to tell you that in 1937, in addition to all the usual national and synagogue groups familiar to us today, there were many, many more. The top of the list was Jewish Community Center and Welfare Federation, headed by people like William Holtzman, Henry Monsky, Sam Beber, Philip Sher, etc., etc. Then there was the Women's Division of the above. They were founded in 1934, and were, according to the Jewish Press, a "tower of strength and suppport" for every part of - the Center program. i Remember something named the Deborah Society? This was an auxiliary of the City Talmud Torah, which met monthly and existd for the sole purpose of aiding the Talmud torah financially. They were maintained by "dues and an annual card party". The thespians among us belonged to a group called the "Center Players", and during the year of 1937 presented three productions, under the direction of Mrs. Herman Jahr. There was something called the Social Ser*• vices Committee. Headed by Dr. Sher, it's main work was to care for Jewish juvenile cases and to prevent possible delinquency. In cases where Jewish children violated the social code, diagnosis was made and treatment followed. The effectiveness of the work was attested to by the fact that only one-third of one per cent of all local delinquency cases were Jewish! An article explained that the Welfare Department's most important work was to simply provide for needy families, citing the problems created by the depression and the - uncertainty of help from government agencies.
For the younger generation, there existed the Round Table of Jewish Youth, comprised of 850 kids, representing 24 separate organizations! Younger than that? There was the Summer Home Camp, which was in its third year of existence. Daily, from 9 am to 5 pm, an average of 70 children were cared for by trained counselors at the Center. A Press story claimed that this program was so successful that many similar programs were being developed throughout the community. The Vaafi Ho'lhr was formed "to modernize the synagogue organization, to accept a modern orthodox Rabbi, to create a social life , within the synagogue and to re-create the synagogue as a communal home". From this central group sprang many off-shoots, including the Youn Men's Vaad, the Vaad Men's Club and the Womens Auxiliary. Together with all of those already mentioned, it is significant to note that there were countless free loan societies. These groups were for the single purpose of help-those who needed some financial assistance; they were, to name only a few, The Jewish Free Loan, The Mutual Loan Society, The Workman's Circle, and even, if you please, A Ladies Free Loan, for "women desirous of helping their needy sisters". These groups had one thing in common. They would lend money, to be repaid in small monthly installment, by those who were in trouble, and in 1937, there were many who could qualify! These organizations appear to have served many in this community, at a time when they most needed help. I haven't mentioned all the Burial Societies and Cemetery Societies, or the Chesed Shel Ernes, but as you can see, at one time Omaha Jews had a great many more organized groups than we have presently. And that's the way it was, 44 years ago.
terrific following in Clarinda and surrounding communities in Missouri Nebraska and Kansas, and I still have it," he said. "Some of them still.come to see me in Omaha. I was a j Boy Scout leader in Clarinda and also active in Kiwanis youth affairs. I was often asked to speak in the churches about Judaism, and sometimes I had Rabbi Kripke come to town to speak to groups at churches and the community college. We often had busloads of people going from Clarinda to be guests at Sabbath services at Beth El." Three-fourths of the ministers in town were patients, said Dr. Frenkel. He does recall an occasion when he came into conflict with a Catholic priest over an issue of bio-medical ethics, but it was really more of a "friendly discussion," he said. "A woman was about to deliver an Rh negative baby and both her life and the baby's were in danger. I thought it would be possible to save only one of the two, and naturally, in accordance with Judaism, I was in favor of trying to save the woman. The woman's husband and the priest wanted to save the baby. The upshot was that the woman went to a Catholic hospital. There both she and the baby died." Dr. Frenkel said that in the spirit of ecumenism he was always glad to fill in for his Christian colleagues on Christmas and Easter. "Of course they got a chance to reciprocate on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur," he said. In addition to playing an active part on the local medical scene, Dr. Frenkel also played a prominent part in Iowa medical organizations. He was president of the Heart Association of Iowa and of the Iowa Society of Internal Medicine, and served several years on the State of Iowa Medical Service Committee. Dr. Frenkel was also active in Republican politics in Iowa, serving several times as a delegate to the state Republican convention. Asked why he was attracted to the Republican party at the same time most German-Jewish refugees in the U.S- were strong Roosevelt supporters, Dr. Frenkel replied that Roosevelt as far as he was concerned was "no friend of the Jews." "The Neutrality Acts did not save Jews, they killed them," said Dr. Frenkel in reference to the 1935 and 1937 Neutrality Acts which made American aid to the Allies impossible since the legislation made no distinction between aggressor and victim nations. "Roosevelt could have gotten thousands of Jews out of Europe and didn't try to," said Dr. Frenkel. Dr. Frenkel declared that he had no complaints to make about raising a Jewish family in a small town. "People must get it out of their heads that living in small communities as Jews is not possible," he said. "It doesn't mean you can't raise children in the Jewish tradition." Dr. Frenkel said his son enjoyed growing up in Clarinda, wherejthe younger Frenkel was active in Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout, and having his religious life in Omaha, where he became Bar Mitzvah. "People will understand why you don't go to church if you will just explain it to them," continued Dr. Frenkel. "You have to be diplomatic about religion. Don't go around saying, 'I believe this, I don't believe that.' Everyone is entitled to his own beliefs." Dr. Frenkel now practices at Methodist and Immanuel Hospitals. His first wife died of cancer. He is now married to the former Helen Lincoln Lerner. Dr. and Mrs. Frenkel live at 9212 California Plaza.
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September 25,1981
Jewish Press
52 years as a Scout By Ilillel Bromberg
If ever there was a man who loves to participate, it is Sam Berek of Fremont, Neb. His walls are covered with plaques testifying to his long involvement in B'nai B'rith, 4-H, Sertoma, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and Boy Scouts. Especially Boy Scouts. Mr. Berek has the distinction of having conferred the Eagle Scout Award-the highest possible in Boy Scouts-on more boys than anyone else in the country. Not surprising, considering that he has been with Boy Scouts of America for 52 years. Even so, Mr. Berek said that his main effort is to get more boys involved, particularly Jewish boys. He explained that a Jewish troop is one which is sponsored by a Jewish organization and meets in a Jewish place. Not all the members of the troop or its leaders need be Jewish. ^ln his more than half a century with the Boy Scouts, Mr. Berek has been chairman of the national board of review .^member of both the National and Mid-America Councils and a merit badge counselor. He has been awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Mid-America Council and the Shofar Award by the National Council of Jewish Scouts. These are the highest awards given by these organizations. Mr. Berek also helped organize the Fremont chapter of B'nai B'rith-the smallest in the country when it was in existence-and was its president from 194548.
Mr. Berek has also been involved regionally in B'nai B'rith and has spent much of his time traveling to various cities in the area making speeches and trying to get others involved. Mr. Berek's patriotism is reflected in his membership in several civic organizations. According to "Who's Who in World Jewry," . he has been the chairman of the Americanism Committee of the Optimists Club, Fremont Flag Commission, the State National Brotherhood Week, and Fremont Centennial Committee. He has also been the state chairman of the United Nations Day committee and chairman of the Fremont NCCJ. He helped establish Fremont's Beth Israel Synagogue and said that he was the acting rabbi for many years and was president from 1951-52. Janet Berek has also been very involved in Jewish and civic activities in Fremont. After graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she was a teacher of English and music for several years in Omaha and later became principal of Underwood Elementary School, now part of District 66. Mrs. Berek stopped teaching when she moved to Fremont, and became involved in Girl Scouts. She was a troop leader locally as well as a Girl Scout city commissioner and a member of the regional board. She was also a -member of the Fremont Red Cross board. In 1966, Mrs. Berek went back to teaching at Fremont Junior High and was head of the
Sam Berek stands in front of one of his plaque-covered walls in his home in Fremont, Neb. English department there. Mr. Berek calls himself a "frustrated actor" as well as being a writer, director, and composer. He has authored and produced over 100 patriotic, religious and centennial pageants and has composed an official 4-H song entitled "4-H Marching Along." In 1929, Mr. Berek made a trip to Hollywood to try to find his place in the acting world. He stayed just 11 months because he "couldn't take all the drinking and wild women." On his return, he was '.'guest artist" at the Center Player's Guild, playing the lead in two productions. At the same time, he took over his father's scrap iron business and ran it for the next 50 yeat^s.
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Jewish Press
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September 25,1981
The Gates of Heaven
Continued from Page 47 Christian church." Madison must, in fact, have come quickly to consider the little synagogue as quite like any other I house of worship in the city, because when the state legislature needed a house of God to meet in for a service in memory of the martyred Abraham Lincoln, it chose the Gates of Heaven. In 1866 the congregation succeeded in finding a full-time spiritual leader. His name was Joseph Thuringer, and to minister to Madison's little flock of Israelite's he came all the way from Germany. He was not an ordained rabbi, but the brother of a member of the congregation whose idea it was to have Thuringer come to be service leader and Hebrew teacher in the Gates of Heaven Sunday school. In-the city directory he was listed as "the Rev. J M Thuringer-Pastor of the Hebrew Church." But it was the last coup for the congregation. The next decade saw the congregation collapse as the Jews, just as quickly as they had flocked to Madison in the 1850s a^.oV'60s, now left the city. "Theyfleft for the same reason people today desert smaller towns for big cities," said Madison Rabbi Manfred Swarsensky, an authority on the history of the
Jews in the Wisconsin capital. "It is doubtful that most of the German immigrant Jews came to Madison with the idea of living out their lives in the community. The depression during the 1870s merely accelerated the process of departure." By 1879 the congregation was down to five families, and in that year the Gates of Heaven rented the synagogue to the Unitarian Society. From this point on, Rabbi Thuringer, whose original salary of $900 already had been cut to $250, was hired only to perform High Holy Day services in private homes. For those who remained, assimilation was the inevitable result of increasing isolation in a friendly gentile community. Indeed, the reformed Israelites accepted their fate cheerfully, Samuel Klauber urging his'' • children to attend the synagogue even after it had been turned into a Unitarian church. "Father said it didn't make any difference who we got the word of God from," recalled Klauber's daughter in 1931 when she was interviewed by a University of Wisconsin student writing his bachelor's thesis on the history of the Jews in Madison. "I myself enjoyed the Unitarian sermons, and my sister played the organ."
A search for photographs of the synagogue's interior turned up nothing, so the project of restoration had to be approached from a standpoint of restoring the "period." This three-ton antique black walnut ark from the old temple of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Milwaukee was rebuilt to fit the apse of the Gates of Heaven.
Continued on Paee 85
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Septambef 25, 1981
'Always different' By Bert Lewis "Would I have even considered raising my children in a community of 900? Absolutely not! In fact, when Bernie and I built our first home, the most important consideration was location, in regard to school district. We wanted our kids to go to school with other Jewish children." Those were the words of Arlene Swartz Hockenberg, who was born in Fremont, and raised in Walthill, Neb. Her mother, the former Bessie Bordy, was also born in Fremont, but unlike Arlene, spent her youth there. At the time, this community had a sizable number of Jewish families, and even a synagogue. Arlene's father was Russian born John Swartz. His father preceded the mother and children, who followed him to this country in 1906. The family settled in Des Moines, Iowa which was also a city with a significant number of Jews. Probably because of economic conditions, the young couple who met in Omaha and married in Fremont in 1919, settled in Laurel, Neb. (This was, incidently, immediately following John Swartz's service in the Navy during World War I.) They lived in Laurel only a short time, during which the oldest child, Bernard, was born. The family moved to Fremont, also for a brief span. Arlene and her sister, Beverly, were both born there, and soon after they
moved to Walthill, where John Swartz and his partner, Arlene's uncle, opened a combination dry goods and grocery store. Arlene remembers her hometown wilh a mixture of emotions. Although there were as many as five Jewish families living there at one time, she "always felt different • set apart in some way from my school friends". Nothing she could articulate. "Just different". The family lived in this non-Jewish environment, but the "tie to grandparents and religion in Fremont was very strong" she says. Although my mother didn't keep kosher, "she kept a special place in her kitchen for the cooking utensils that always accompanied the grandparents when they came to visit". "Our home was Jewish" says Arlene." We didn't question it, we just knew that's how it was. My mother cooked ethnic dishes, and always made a real effort to provide traditional touches for us, though we went to Fremont often. Holidays were always spent in Fremont. In fact, even though I can remember the long, hard hours my dad worked in the store, well before sunset on the eve of any holiday, the doors were locked and we were on our way". She knows her parents did participate in some of the activities of this hon-Jewish Walthill. "My dad belonged to the Masonic Lodge, and enjoyed the camaraderie of the
Arlene Hockenberg stands by the Walthill. Neb. sign. organization. My mother was a member of the Eastern Star group, and probably also enjoyed being with those ladies. But outside of that, I don't believe my folks mixed socially with the townspeople". They did, however, travel to Sioux City for special parties or celebrations, she remembers. As mentioned earlief, Fremont had a synagogue. "A rabbi was always recruited for High Holiday," Arlene tells, "but it was hard to keep one there on a regular basis". During the times a rabbi was on hand, she remembers "Sunday school classes. But as soon as there was no rabbi, the classes stopped." (Continued on Page 62)
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* Always feelir g different' (Continued from Page 60)
In response to my question regarding antiSemitism, she thought carefully, then remarked that "only once did anybody aim a derogatory remark at me. It came from a boy I had liked, but his reference to me as a "Jew girl" hurt, and I felt very differently about him after that." Also, "in what was always said good-naturedly, as though a joke, the family store was often referred to as "the Jew store". Although she knows her parents weren't pleased about it, dating and socializing was not forbidden to her and her siblings. It was likely a concession made to help their children achieve some sort of normal adolescence, but, say Arlene "while they didn't forbid it, they didn't like it one bit!" Always acknowleging Jewish custom meant that as her brother approached 13, "he began taking the bus to Sioux City where he could receive religious instruction. This was done several times a week, until he was prepared for the special day." The Bar Mitzvah was held in Fremont, "in the midst of Jewish relatives and friends from the surrounding area". Digging deep into past memory, Arlene commented that "in so many towns between ours and Fremont, there was at least one Jewish merchant". Places with names like Winnebago, Roselie, Lyons and Oakland. No
wonder, then, so many folks drove from one neighboring town to another for a Sunday afternoon visit. \ Always, it seems, those small town Jewish people had a need for the company of other Jews. True, they got along well in their Christian communities, but they apparently longed for the company that such visits brought. Of course to come together for the observance of a holiday was understood. This was different...this must have fulfilled some other need.
Above, Arlene and Bernard Hockenberg. Below, Arlene's parnets, Mr. and Mrs. John B. Swartz. The picture on the wall is Arlene's grandmother, Jennie Bordy.
Arlene left Walthill when she went to the University of Nebraska, and didn't really live there again. She married young and spent nearly 10 years in Sioux City. She spoke of "a sudden enthusiastic involvement in everything Jewish -1 couldn't get enough of it. I loved it all...clubs, synagogue, new Jewish friends. Maybe I had always had some hidden desire to live more closely with other Jewish people.and not until the opportunity presented itself did I realize it." Some of the friends she made then are still close to her. Today, this serene lady is Mrs. Bernard Hockenberg, mother of Jennifer, Irvin and Mark, grandmother of Andrew. As I concluded my recent visit with her, during which she recounted the story of her childhood days, I thought she was as far removed from Walthill, Nebraska as she could possibly be, and still be on the same planet!
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Jewish Press
September 25.1981
TVxkbcook. 108th & Center For exquisite framing and display from
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September 25,1961
Rockbrook HairFashions
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in Rockbrook Village
Flowers Plants - And Gifts
Pag* 65
Jewish Press
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September 25.1981
When only the best will do
HONEY CAKE
1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening % cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup Ground Oat Flour* 1x teaspoon baking powder k teaspoon salt V S > teaspoon ginger l k teaspoon cinnamon '/4 teaspoon nutmeg Vi teaspoon cloves
2/3 cup hot water 4 teaspoons instant coffee crystal or powder 1 teaspoon soda 6 eggs, separated *k cup sugar 1 cup honey x k cup vegetable 'oil 2 tablespoons cognac, brandy or brandy extract VA teaspoon cream of tartar
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 10-inch tube pan or 12cup fluted tube pan; coat evenly with nuts. Combine flours, baking powder, salt and spices; set aside. Combine water, coffee crystals and soda; set aside. In large bowl, beat egg yolks slightly; add sugar, beating until light and lemon colored. Add honey and oil to reserved coffee mixture; blend into egg yolks. Stir in cognac. Add dry ingredients; mix well.
When you want to serve only the best, particularly during the holidays, choose Honey Cake. Because desserts symbolize the wish for sweetness in the year ahead, this cake will be especially popular during Rosh Hashanah. Honey Cake has good taste and good sense. Note that it includes Ground Oat Flour, all you do is blend VA cups of uncooked quick or old fashioned oats in you blender or food processor for one minute. When your baked goods are made with wholegrain Ground Oat Flour, they include practically all of the nutrients nature put into oats. Wholegrain oats contain 7 B vitamins and vitamin E. They also supply nine minerals and are high in fiber content.
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Beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed on electric mixer until stiff peaks from. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched with finger. Invert tube pan. (If tube pan does not have long enough legs to allow air to circulate under cake, invert pan on bottle.) Cool completely; remove from pan. Makes on 10-inch tube cake (12 to 16 servings). GROUND OAT FLOUR 1. PLACE l-Vi cups quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked, in blender or food processor 2. COVER; blend about 60 seconds. Makes about 1 cup. NOTE: To prepare larger quantities of Ground Oat Flour, repeat above directions to produce amount needed. Flour can be made ahead and : stored in tightly covered container in cool dry place up to 6 months. i
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Jewish Press
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Pag*68
September 25.1981
Jewish Press
I am glad to be in Omaha Continued from Page 36 -
is no God, and we are all the same. And yet we weren't all the same," Fridrikh explained. "Once as a child I was playing a game with some friends. They said I couldn't be the red knight because I was Jewish." Despite the obstacles, Fridrikh was able to maintain a tie with Judaism. He read books of Yiddish writers like Sholom Aleichem which were translated into Russian. And until Russia broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 1967 there were occasional articles about Israel in the newspapers. "I was raised as an atheist, but did not totally accept it. I was curious to find my roots and to identify what makes us human. I read a lot and there are references to God in classic Russian literature. In Russia I couldn't get close to the Jewish religion, but I was proud to be a Jew and proud of Israel." Fridrikh was almost nine years old when he decided to be a ballet dancer. He auditioned for the ballet school of the Odessa State Theater for Opera and Ballet. After he was accepted he attended regular school in the morning and ballet school in
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"I was unwilling to adjust to life with the Jewish community. "I always introduce myself in in Russia anymore. There is no arevery community where I go. In tistic freedom in the Soviet Union. Fayetteville there is a Jewish comThe positions and opportunities to create are open only to those people munity with about 170 families. I atloyal to the regime. Of course, they tended synagogue on the High don't consider Jews as loyal to the Holidays there. "In Moscow, there are only a Soviet Union any more. handful of Jews. Moscow is only "I saw examples of the older eight miles from Pullman, people wasting their lives and Washington. There are about 25 bringing up their children without any hope. I wanted to grow as an ar- families there. The families take tist and find the roots of the creative turns offering their houses for the force, to know what is the force that different holidays because there is no synagogue. brings us hatred, love and com"I am looking forward to going to passion." * synagogue in Omaha and being part Fifteen months passed before Fridrikh, his parents and his grand- of the Jewish community. This is the largest Jewish community I have mother were given permission to lived in besides Brooklyn." leave Russia. They settled in Fridrikh has been in Omaha only Brooklyn, New York, which is home base for Fridrikh as he travels from 'five weeks. Already he has plunged into his new job as Ballet Master city to city. Since coming to the United States and Choreographer for the Omaha Ballet and is looking foward to the in June 1977, Fridrikh has taught coming perfromance season. ballet at the International Ballet "I am very happy working with School and Neubert Ballet Institute the company. There is a good level at Carnegie Hall. He has lived in of enthusiam and creativity. The Fayetteville, North Carolina; performances this season should be Moscow, Idaho; and Erie, Pennsylvania. During all of his travels very exciting. I am glad to be in Omaha." ... • Fridrikh has maintained his ties
the afternoon. Fridrikh graduated from the Odessa Academy of the Arts at the age of 18. He then spent two years with the Soviet Army in Western Siberia. "Just in the beginning I served in the regular army. Then I became a member of the Red Army Ensemble which is a special performing group in Siberia," Firdrikh said. "This group served the people in the very far reaches of the country and the military bases. About 30 percent of what we performed was Communist propaganda. We were still artists so we adjusted ourselves and could be creative." After" Fridrikh's tour of duty in the army he was the Principal Character Dancer with the Odessa State Ballet. In 1973 he decided to take the entrance exam for the National Institute of Culture in Leningrad. "1973 was not the best year for Jews in Russia,"Fridrikh explained. "I didn't think the National Instutute would accept me, but it did. For two years I studied there. Then after talking to my parents, we decided to leave Russia.
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John W. Kostifch Associates, Inc.
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Jewfah'fVeM
P»q«70
September 25. 1981
Jewish Press
Synagogue officers 1981-82 Temple Israel President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Past President
Michael M. Erman Charles A. Monasee Silvert Mawrence Carol Anne Farber Theodore M. Seldin
Board Members Harold Bernstein, Steven Dloogoff, Irvin Gendler, Phyllis Glazer, Don Greenberg, Gerald A. Hoberman, Morris Hoffman, Gary Kaplan, Mickey Kaplan, Marvin Polikov, Noni Seiner, Harold Seiner, Joie Simon, Ray R. Simon, Stephen Simon, Todd Simon, Jeffery Skog, Ricki Skog, Bill Wasserkrug, Richard Zacharia, Hermene Zweiback. Temple Israel Men's Club President Bill Wasserkrug Vice,President HaroldSelner SecretaryTreasurer Jerry Gershman Board of DirectorsHoward Kaiman, C. Meade Chamberlin, Sherman Brodkey, Ernest Priesman. Temple Israel Sisterhood President. . . Joie Simon Executive Vice President Noni Seiner Vice Presidents: Ways and Means . Nancy Greenberg Sisterhood Services Sandy Yudelson Membership — Ruth Erman Recording Secretary Carole Chamberlin Corresponding Secretary JoanLehr Treasurer . Lois Epstein Dues Secretaries . FritziLuefschuetz Nancy Hornstein Parliamentarian • ••••• J u d i G o l d s t e i n Policy and By-Laws . Wanda Blotcky Advisors Jane Brooks Linda Weinstein TrmaSchwarz Rachel Bleicher Hermene Zweiback
Temple Israel Couples Club Linda and Michael Smith Chairman RickiSkog Treasurer Temple Board Representatives Ricki and Jeffery Skog Advisors Linda and Rabbi Barry Weinstein Steering Committee: Karen and Manuel Delgadillo, Debbie and Jeff Smedlund, Naomi and Joel Brooks, Marjorie and Seth Levy, Martha and Fred Tichauer, Jan and Blake Lund.
Todd Simon Steve Brodkey Mitchell Warren Kevin Saltzman Leslie Wolpa Becky Cipinko Anny Neff
Treasurer Secretary Co-Sergeants at Arms Chaplain
Beth Israel President Vice President Treasurer Financial Secretary Recording Secretary
:
.'.. Morton L. Glass Manny Goldberg Dr. Thomas Jaeger Richard Katzman Robert Oberman
Board Members Aron Zeiderman. William Cohen, Jack Levey, Norman Zevitz. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Crounse, Mr. and Mrs. A. Richard Weiner, Dr. and Mrs. Irving Shapiro, Dr.'and Mrs. Paul Shyken, Mrs. Jack Cohen, Mrs. Morris Ruderman, \jcon Wintroub, Dave Wine, Mr. and Mrs. Abner Rubin, Mrs. Nate Ostrow, Dr and Mrs. James Wax, Sam Freed,
Accessories Fabrics Furnishings
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120th No. of Center
Finest Selection of Designer:
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Beth Israel Sisterhood President Esther Wax Fund-Raising Vice President ^ Leah Siegel Program Vice President ^ Cheryl Kricsfeld Membership Vice President Simkie Siegel
Temple Youth Group President Vice Presidents
From the merchants at
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Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Cohen, Harry Sidman, Joe Sokolof, Jay Stoler, Sidney Katleman, Irving Epstein, Mrs. Lawrence Roitstein, Harry Friedman, Mrs. Sam Katzman, Mrs. Isadore Elewitz, Mrs. Morton Glass, Maurice Katzman, Henry Appel, Dr. Haskell Morris, Dr. Maurice Schwartz, Joseph Kirshenbaum.
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usmiA'&i'M September 25.1981
t/ou and j/ourfamlCies & Steaks Prime Ribs Crab Legs
restaurant & lou 2121 So. 73rd St.
Lunch 11:30 to 2 p.m. Dinner 6 psn. to midnight
IK Mock So. G r m b Hoy*. Hoiwtel)
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331-3557 4404S.B4thSt.
Same family serving you for over 31 years
i » CHINbS AMLF1IC LunchD Cocktail Toko Ou Party
A large menu featuring many fish - specials. Cocktails.
OPEN 11 Sun. 121
Compnta Hunt Citnlngand Tito Out Senica
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•Fine prime fib •Ice cream drinks •Choice Steaks •Cordial stall and cozy decor
Prime and Wine
Retflfviuorti Acc«pt«d Mortd Ihru Thu'Kllr 496-0222 11732 W«t6ods»R<i Rictila
Open Mon.-Sat. at 4:30 p.m. Closed Sundays
Omaha area's greatest steak prices—it's worth the drive!
ITALIAN RISTORANTE
Steaks • Prime Rib Seafood
Authentic No them & Southern Italian Cuisine Happy N w Year to my friends and omers. Your host, Sam Bonofede 4688 Leavenworth
Downtown Paplllion 9300 S. 84th St. 331-8850 Open 7 days a week
For Reservations Call 553-1976
Happy New Year!
Cantonesi; F Chinese Fam Dinners
steaks • veal • pasta • European tortes Italian ice cream • cappuccino lunch M-F 10-2 Fri.-Sat. 6-11 pm
dinner 6-10 bar patio
Phone 341-3431 or 341-3437 Private Booth* or tako Out Orders
Gate de Paris ... Restaurant Francais Middle European dishes featuring roast duck, roast chicken, go lash, boot dumplings, kraut.
Walter -lecht, Chef/Owner 4829 S. 24th St
jes.-Sun. 11-8:30 p.m.
1228 South 6th 733-7491
344-0227
Pa«« 72
Jewish Press
September 25,1981
Synagogue schedules and rabbi's messages With and without the family By Rabbi Sidney II. Brooks Temple Israel Judaism is a family centered religion. The most meaningful expressions of our faith are elicited by family events. Birth, marriage, death, festival occasions have deep effect upon all members of the family. Beautiful scrolls, silver holy vessels, special household possessions are preserved for us because families held them to be special (holy?) and passed them from generation to generation. On a less itimate basis we could say that the People of Israel are an extended family. With all our diversity we are called the "children of Israel (Jacob)". This may explain, at least in major part, why our High Holidays have so great an
Council Bluffs B'naiIsrael
impact on us. We want to be together. Some err, I think, in not insisting that the youngsters be present with the adults in home celebrations. From their youthful memories, later adult habit patterns are formed. There are those, too, whose children are grown and have gone from our homes to homes of their own. Substitute families can be formed together with similar couples. We are all, in a sense, a family. There are those who believe that much of our nation's problems derive from a deterioration of the family. Study groups and task forces abound probing into the nature of the dynamics of family life seeking to determine the origin of the weaknesses of the family structure. I suggest that Jewish family life at its best could be invulnerable to the onslaughts of contemporary stress and impersonalization
Temple Israel
p.m. North 42nd Street and Redick
4 p.m.
SIIABBATSHL'VA Sabbath of Repentance Saturday Octobers Morning Service . 8:45a.m.
To fellow Jews... wherever they are
Rabbi Kenneth Bromberg The reason is that our Beth El Synagogue way is religiously oriented. We axe commanded to love Conventional wisdom has our parents, to educate our it that Rosh Hashanah and children, to care for our Yom Kippur are the most elders. These mitzvot come personal of our religious to focus on the High Holidays holidays-and that certainly and should be our pattern of is so. behavior every day of our That most distinctive lives as our response to God. prayer of the Days of Awe, KEVER OVOS I wish a good year for all, Un'taneh Tokef, speaks to us During the holiday season, it a year made good by not as a collectivity, but as is a religious obligation to renewed attention to the discrete individuals. The visit Kever Ovos, the burial greatest source of love and image of the "shepherd who place of our departed loved life that we have: our loved gathers his- flock bringing ones and to offer prayers and ones, our family, our friends, them under his staff...supplications. and our people. determining the life and The Community Kever Ovos decreeing the destiny of Services will be held on every creature...How many Sunday, October 4, at 11 a.m. shall leave this world and ROSH HASHANAH at the Bikur Cholim many shall be born into it, Monday, September 28 Cemetery in Council Bluffs. who shall live and who shall First Service 6:30 p.m. die, who shall live out the Second Service . . . .8:30 p.m. YOM KIPPUR limit of his days and who Tuesday, September 29 Wednesday Evening shall not..." is addressed not and Thursday Morning Service 10 a.m. to the lifeof the nation, but to October 7 and 8 YouthService 3 p.m. each Jew individually.
Rabbi Allan M. Gonsher will conduct the services assisted by Sam Sacks.
Tashlich Service (Tuesday only)
YOM KIPPUR Wednesday Evening and Thursday October 7 and H Kol Nidre 6:45p.m. Rabbi's Sermon 7:15p.m. ROSH HASHANAH Shachris 9a.m. Monday evening, (Morning Service) Tuesday and Wednesday Youth Services 10 a.m. September 2H, 29and 30 Mincha-Maariv 7 p.m. Torah Reading ...11:30a.m. Rabbi'sSermon 12 noon (Evening Service) 12:20p.m. Shachris 7 a.m. YIZKOR (Memorial Service) (Morning Service) Musaf Service 1 p.m. Torah Reading . . . 8:30a.m. 4:30 p.m. Sounding of the Shofar 9:15 Mincha Neilah 6p.m. a.m. The Shofar will be sounded Musaf Service . 9:30P^.Youth Services ^^.'m. and the Yom Kippur fast will Rabbi'sSermon l?.'J0a.m. end at 7:30 p.m.
ROSH HASHANAH Monday evening, Tuesday and Wednesday September 28,29and 30 Evening Service 7 p.m Morning Service 8:30a.m Torah Reading .. 10:00a.m Sermon 10:30a.m. Shofar Service 11 a.m. Musaf Service. 11:15 a.m.
KolNidre 6:45 p.m. Morning Service. 8:30 p.m. YOM KIPPUR Torah Reading 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 7 Sermon 10:30 a.m. First Service 6:30 p.m. YIZKOR 11p.m. Second Service ... .8:30 p.m. (Memorial Service) Thursday. Octobers Musaf Service 12 p.m. Service begins 10 a.m. Recess 3 p.m. YouthService 1:30 p.m. Afternoon Service 5:30 p.m. Afternoon Service . . 3 p.m. Concluding Service . .7 p.m. Ending Yom Kippur fast and MEMORIAL SERVICE service 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 Temple Israel Cemetery, 2
TShuva... the most important word
Beth Israel Synagogue Friday, September 25 Kabbalat Shabbat 6:45 p.m. Saturday, September 2G Morning Service 8:45 a.m. A Kiddush will follow the service, in the Social Hall. Youth Services 10:00 a.m. Class with the Rabbi . 5 : 3 0 p.m. Mincha 6:45 p.m. Mincha will be followed by Shalosh S'udot, Maariv and Havdalah
Nevertheless, year after year on the first evening of the holiday, when I hear the hazzan intone the call to prayer Borchu et Adonai Ham'vorach in the charac^ teristic nusah (mode) of Rosh Hashanah, my thoughts immediately flash to fellow Jews wherever in the world there are Jews come together as a community. I think of our people in places where they are free to
live as Jews and in places where it is dangerous for them to exercise their Jewishness. I think of Jews in places where the Jewish population is miniscule in relation to the general population, and in places where there are enough of our people to constitute a "center of Jewish life." To be sure, the personal aspects of these holidays grip me soon enough, but in those first moments of Rosh Hashanah eve, my sense of kinship with fellow Jews around the world is especially acute. The accounts in this High Holiday issue of THE JEWISH PRESS dramatize the ongoing story of the establishment, rise, and decline of small Jewish communities in this region. It brings to our attention the existence and special religiocultural needs of those individual Jews and small clusters of Jews still living outside our few metropolitan centers. Beth El Synagogue greets them and all of you here in Omaha with warmest good wishes for a New Year of good health, achievement, and mutually helpful sense of oneness as units of the Jewish people.
By Kabbi Nadoff Beth Israel Synagogue The same question confronts us repeatedly every High Holiday season, and we need to consider and evaluate our answer to this question, anew, each year. The question is of such tremendous importance that the manner in which we answer it has a lasting effect on our lives. Very few question with which we will ever be confronted, or our answers to them will have the same impact as the question forced upon our attention by the High Holidays. The crucial question posed by this season of the year may be put this way: Shall each year of my life be merely a carbon copy of the year before? Shall I be content to view life as a duplicating machine, running off page after page, each identical to the preceding one? This is a powerful and disturbing question. Our answer to it is of greatest significance to our lives. This question forms the basic theme of our High Holiday season. It is summerized in our Holiday prayers in a single word, the most important word in our entire religious vocabulary T'Shuva. T'Shuva is a simple word with profound implications. It means: The ability to recognize our errors and seek amends. It means: Putting behind our fault and failings, and recognizing that in matters of the spirit it is never too late. It means: Changing directions and searching for a new and better path. This idea brings to mind the Inspiring story of the artist who was asked,
B'nai Jacob Adas Jesharun Saturday,September 28 Morning service8:45 a.m. Sunday,September 27 Morning service 8 a.m.. ROSH HASHANAH Tuesday,September 29 Morning Service 8:45 a.m. Wednesday,September 30 Morning Service 8:45 a.m. YOM KIPPUR Wednesday.October 7 Kol Nidre 6:30 p.m. Thursday .October 8 Service commence at 9 a.m.
"Which is your greatest statue?" After only a brief pause, he answered, "The next one," The artist was expressing the major theme of our Holiday season • that it is within our ability to. become more than what we • have been, it is this ability to , change, to grow in mind and,; soul, to become more than ' we are, that makes us, in the words of Scripture, "A little lower than the angels". It is certainly not an easy , undertaking. It is difficult; and painful to admit t o ; wrong-doing and to change • directions. It takes enor- ' mous moral strength to say'' "I am sorry". The High Holidays come along to reassure us that our errors are not irrepairable, that another chance for bet-' terment awaits us, and that ' forgiveness is one of God's j attributes. \ It is evident from all this J that T'Shuva cannot abide j pretense and sham. Lipi' service alone has no part in '• the T'Shuva process. T'Shuva must be sincere. It implies a complete change of heart. As an old folk-saying has it, there is no use confessing you stole a rope if you forget to mention that a horse was tied to the other end of it. Self-deception does not lead to T'Shuva. There is no "plea-bargaining" in the Divine court.
Beth El ROSH HASHANAH Monday, September 28 Evening Service...8:15 p.m. Tuesday, September 29 Morning Service 9am 12:30 p.m. Alternate Service. l o a. m. 12:30 p.m. Tashlich Service 4 p.m. Minha-Maariv 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, September 30 Morning Service 9am 12:30 p.m. 'AlternateService. 10a m 12:30 p.m. Minha-Maariv 6:45 p.m. YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 7 KolNidre 6:30p.m. Alternate Service 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Octobers Morning Service 9am Alternate Service.. lOa.m.
Musaf..: 11:30 a.m. Minha-N'ilah 5pm Study session with Rabbi Jules Harlow 2 • 3 p m R 3-5 p.'nr
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Stop in to see us from 7 a.m. to midnight
Stanley Stein £r family
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Pag*74
Jewish Press
September 25,1981
Jewish organization officers 1981-82 B'nai B'rith Women President Vice Presidents: Program Membership Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Financial Secretary Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Counselor Regional Representative ADL-CRC BBYO Representative Regional Director, BBYO Bingo Chairmen Bulletin Editor Board Meeting Notices Bowling League President Courtesy Chairman
Marion Strauss Hedy Kirke Judy Lerner Bess Aronoff Marjorie Levy Cheryl Kirke Esther Wax Jacque Sacks Rosaline Epstein Judy Cooper Betty Goldstrom Maxine Rosen Bess Aronoff Sharon Root Pat Tatelman Esther Wax Dorothy Brandt Lil Noodell Bev Franklin Betty Fisher
Boy Scout Troop No. 218 of the Jewish Community Center wishes everyone a Happy New Year
Best Wishes fora Healthy and Happy New Year . to all of rny many relatives and friends
Louis Albert
May the New Year bring health and happiness to our dear family and friends.
Georgie. Diane & Boggy Bogdanoff
Best Wishes fora Healthy, Happy New Year
Dr. and Mrs. Steven Tipp and family
Best wishes to our relatives and friends for health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
Cultural & Performing Arts.... Maxine Noodell Donor Cards Ida Giller Doris Izenstat Gift of Love Certificates Rosalie Greenspan Dolls for Democracy Adele Mandell Esther Wax Hillel Representative ...... Ginger Rothenberg Historian Reva Nathan Public Affairs' Marsha Plotkin Publicity Betty Goldstrom Red Cross Ida Sacks Small Fund Raising Chairman . .Sylvia Sidman Veterans Hospital Jennie Bear
Hadassah Co-Presidents
Sandra Kohll
Vice Presidents: Education Fund Raising
—Sally Appel Doreen Lerner Susie Rubin
Good Wishes fora Healthy, Happy Prosperous New Year
Esther and Mort Ives From Los Angeles to Omaha we wish all our relative and dear friends greetings and best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year
Lorrie & Sheldon Bernstein Bess Steinberg
Career Women President Gertrude Mozer Vice-Presidents Fund-Raising Sarah Dansky Membership-Special Projects . .Sylvia Ross Programs Julia Zuker Treasurer Alice Heeger Financial Secretary LJllie Becker Recording Secretary Linda Muskin Continued on Page 86, Best Wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year
Best Wishes fora Happy New Year
Bennett. Joan, Carol, Mark and Steve Raduziner
Our wishes for a happy healthy New Year and the joy of a loving family to our dear family and friends
Senator Peter Hoagland
Best Wishes fora Healthy and Happy New Year
To wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Bresel and family
Marshall and Toby Forbes, Barbara, JoelErShari
May the New Year bring health, happiness and peace to all.
Best Wishes fora Happy New Year
Stuart R. Schlanger, MD
Our best wishes for a year of health, happiness and peace
Bob & Betty Batt & Family
Local Services .Corinne Levin Membership JeanDuitch Treasurer Beverly Rich Recording Secretary Peggy Chasen Financial Secretary Carol Goldberg Corresponding Secretary... .KateKirshenbaum Parliamentarians Marilyn Pred Anne Levinson Immediate Past Presidents Mona Crandell .Thelma Lustgarten
Elizbeth Hart
Seth, Margie and Jacob Levy
On our first Rosh Hashona in Omaha, Best wishes for a healthy, Happy New Year
Fran, Steve, Adam & Elana Rod
Dr. and Mrs. Alfred W. Brody
extend warm greetings to all for a very happy, healthful, and peaceful New Year 5742!
The Kirshenbaums Joe, Maxine, Jeff, Susie & Debbie
Lou, Marlene Mindy Jo and Amy Jo Solomon
"Shalom alYisroeal"
May the New Year bring health, happiness, and the joy of lasting friendships Dave and Jeanne Dvorkin Lillian Warren Marty, Marilyn, Marc, & Mitchell Warren Mel, Lois, Randi, Robyn, & Rikki Epstein
May the coming year be filled with the blessings of health happiness, prosperity and peace.
Best Wishes fora Happy New Year to our relatives and friends
The Jerry Gordman Family
TTie members of the Board of Directors and Staff of your Omaha Jewish Community Center Love and best wishes for good health and extend to all of our JCC members and friends happiness in the New Year to our dear friends best wishes for a happy, healthful and and relatives everywhere Prosperous New Year 5742!
Jay R. Lerner President
Steven J . Rod Executive Director
Ida Sacks and Helen Wolk Papier George,. Jacque and Jason Sacks Mickey, Monica Shayna and Scott Sacks '
I
September 25,1981
In the year 5742 we wish our families, friends, and the community a future of Good Health, Happiness and Peace in the World.
The Society of Survivors Of The Holocaust We Remember in order that Mankind will not forget
B'naiB'rith Women of Omaha
Jewish Preu
PagÂŤ7B
May the reverence and joy of the High Holy Days continue throughout the year, bringing new purpose and fulfillment to our family and friends,
Career Women of Hadassah
wishes the community a healthy and happy New Year
May you be inscribed for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
During our second hundred years of service to the Jewish people, we pray for peace and joy to our friends and families around the world.
Kalah Franklin Chapter Hatikvah Chapter
Omaha Chapter ORT
American Mizrachi Women Epstein Morgan Post 260
^T
Jewish War Veterans
and our sister organization in Israel, Na'amat wish the Omaha community and friends in Israel health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
wishes all veterans and the supporting community a happy New Year. Remember Jhu latke party Nov. 8 supports scholarships & V.A. entertainment
Our Best Wishes for a wonderful New Year
Omaha Section
National Council of Jewish Women
Beth El Synagogue Sisterhood USI
extends its good wishes to the Jewish community for a healthy and peaceful New Year.
Men's Club BILUUSY
the Congregation of Temple Israel
Sincere wishf-.s for a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year
Beth Israel Sisterhood
wishes its friends of the Jewish community many long years filled with good health, happiness and love.
SYO Beth Israel Synagogue
Sisterhood Couples' Club
Best Wishes for a happy New Year
The Older Adults of the JCC Monday Group
Old-Timers Walk-In, Drop-In Groups
*, \
Omaha Chapter Hadassah
Henry Monsky Lodge
Our best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.
Men's Club Youth Groups
May the New Year be bright with peace, prosperity and happiness.
Omaha B'nai B'rith Men Cornhusker Lodge
Shoshana Pioneer Women of Omaha
L'Shana Tova Tikatevu
L'Shana Tova Tikatevu
The Jewish Day School wishes everyone in the community a Healthy Happy New Year >
Ediar BBG NerTamid BBG M.Z. Yoshanah BBG AZA100, Beber Chapter AZA1, Mother Chapter AZA 1510, Chaim Weizmann
1 1
P a y 78
Jewish Press
September 25,1981
B'nai Israel Synagogue Continued from Page 32
for $6,000 at 618 Mynster St. They laid the cornerstone on June 19 of that year. The by-laws, written in Yiddish, provided for dues of fifty cents monthly from every member. Fire caused by a defective glue leveled the synagogue on the Sabbath Eve of March 5, 1930. Due to the heroic efforts of three women who rescued seven Sefer Torahs from the inferno, the entire congregation was spared having to go into a two month mourning period. Mrs. A. Diamond, wife of the rabbi, Miss Rosie Fox, and Mrs. Charles Endleman, entered the burning building by a side door and, braving flames and smoke, seized the priceless Torah scrolls and carried them to safety. According to Jewish law, if Torahs are destroyed by fire or other
catastrophe, the entire congregation must enter into a period of mourning and semi-fasting-eight days for each scroll lost. The Jews of Council Bluffs elected a building committee to begin a new synagogue, including George Whitebook, B. Gilinsky, Abe Gilinsky, Morris Hoffman, Dave Fox and Simon Shyken. With the Depression reducing income and money needed to fight rising Naziism, it was difficult to squeeze funds from the small community. But milk money was given for mortar and, by August 10, 1930, the white cornerstone saved from the ruined synagogue had been laid into the rising red brick walls of a new synagogue. The prominently set stone bears the date 1904 on one side and 1930 on the other. It contains Continued from Page 77
May you and your family have a joyous New Year full of wonderful memories... recorded forever!
Greetings
R.J.Drahota-,D.D.S.
DEaN
A Happy, Healthy New Year to All
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Continued from Page 78
editions of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil and the Jewish Morning Journal. A silver dollar and the names of the congregation members and the members of the building committee are preserved in the stone also. By January 11,1931, the synagogue was completed at a cost of $26,000 and hundreds of hours of freely given time. In 1933 Simon Shyken was elected president of the congregation and served for the next 31 years. During his administration the mortgage was paid and burned on November 21, 1943. Dr. Isaac Sternhill became president in 1947 and was succeeded by Sam Meyerson, Louis Katelman, Sam Sacks, Abe Katelman, Leon Frankel and many others. A "rabbinage"adjacent to the synagogue was bought in 1936. It was remodeled in 1953 for Rabbi David Korb and his family. It was sold some years ago. In 1946 a large home on Pearl Street was bought for $15,000 for use as a Jewish Community Center. After extensive remodeling and
P«fl>77
Jewish Press
decorating, it was formally dedicated in 1949, complete with men's and women's lounges, a library, and rooms for school and club acitivities. The Center, too, was sold some years ago. B'nai Israel celebrated it Golden Jubilee in 1954, holding a banquet and program attended by local clergymen and representatives of civic clubs. A book entitled "The Golden Book of B'nai Israel" containing a history of Council Bluffs Jewry, was published for the occasion. In 1963, in one huge dying gasp, B'nai Israel was completely renovated: a social hall and a new kitchen were installed in the ground floor of the building, and a new wing, including three classrooms, a chapel, and a study for the rabbi, was added. In 1969, Emil Stein, the last rabbi the community was ever to have, left Council Bluffs. * * * * * In 1974, B'nai Israel member Sylvia Telpner recorded her thoughts on the last days of the Council Bluffs Jewish community and its synagogue. Her words are as moving and apt today as they were then: Continued on Page 85
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Stfft September 26.1981
Jewish Press
Page 78
Growing up Jewish small town
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Diamonds'or Shukert's markets in By David Kotok Omaha. "You're from the East, aren't you." The same question has been There wasn't always a rabbi. asked of me repeatedly as I have My Jewish education started anrt moved my family from Little Rock, Ark., to Kearney, Lincoln to stopped several times. A rabbi was always retained in the year of Omaha. any Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Finally, Rabbi Levi came 15 years ago and I used to think it was just a stayed. result of my black hair not blending with the Midwest look. Then I realized the question almost Rabbi Levi will probably be the always came after the person last rabbi the town has. Its learned I was Jewish. Jewish population is dwindling. In Lincoln and Omaha, I came From numbering more than 20 up with a geographically accurate children in the early 1960s, only response. four children live in the com"Yes," I say. "I'm from Fort munity today. Dodge, Iowa." Don't underestimate the survivability of Fort Dodge Jews. The questioner registers my They have varying degrees of in- , response with a shocked exterest in their religion. Yet, the pression. Sometimes, Jew and idea of "mitzvah" is strong. , non-Jew blurt out: "Come on. There aren't any Jews in Fort Dodge." When one family has a Yahr- ;,, zeit, there is no saying "no" to a I was a Bar Mitzvah in the call from the synagogue asking Fort Dodge synagogue. That you to be the 10th man. The "10th synagogue still stands. The community has a rabbi who lives in a man" may come in old work ,, synagogue owned house. The clothes, bedroom slippers or synagogue might be the envy of having just finished a ham sandmany counterparts because it has wich for a Friday night dinner. no debts. In junior and senior high school, I usually went from the With less than 50 Jews in the congregation, Fort Dodge is one of Friday night service to the diocese dance at the Catholic the smallest active communities Church four blocks away. I played in the country. Judaism may not thrive in Fort for the First Presbyterian Basketball team. Dodge. It certainly survives though. I also belonged to AZA in Des ; Our family might still be con- Moines so I could go to considered newcomers to Fort Dodge, ventions. We even formed a Fort Dodge chapter of United having moved to the northwest Iowa farm center in 1955 from St. Synagogue Youth the one year we had enough kids to equal the numJoe, Mo. Fort Dodge's Jewish n; community was founded in 1907 ber of offices. and services were held over a At times it was a difficult Central Avenue cafe until 1948, existence as Jews. It was never 1L when Beth El Synagogue was
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FASHION NEWS FOR 1981Th» concho bah from our unique f att colacttan
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the synagogue would be filled with more than 100 people for the High Holidays. Members from Webster City, Algona and Sac City brought their children to the Sunday School. My family kept kosher. But so did some other families that received meat shipments from
insurmountable. We knew who w e ' n•'•
were. Everyone else know who we ! v were as well. ' ->'• •
<
The Jewish community of Fort' Dodge held an early spring benefit at the country club where nonJews outnumbered Jews at least 10-to-l. Getting a ticket to what Fort Dodge gentiles called "the ., Jew dance" was a status symbol for area residents. ....... :, • Continued on.Page 7 9 . ';
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•
»
•
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Sof*ÂŤmt)r25,1981
Jewish Praia
Best oMshes OR t h e
Beth El Synagogue in Fort Dodge, Iowa -built in 1948. Photo courtesy of the Fort Dodge Messenger.
Continued from Page 78 The members of the sisterhood spent hours making hundreds of blintzes and other dishes for the ball in the land of lutefisk. Since I left Fort Dodge, I've been amazed at the resiliency of its tiny community. I've seen families and couples move into town with little interest in Judaism. If they stay two years, t they were likely to find themr selves on the synagogue board or making chopped liver for the sisterhood dance. Soon the feeling of obligation emerges, When the call comes to be the 10th man (or woman), the newcomers respond like the old timers.
in a second hand store in Kearney. We had to buy it to redeem something of what we feared was the loss of a Jew to small town America. In my family, holidays were always shared with uncles, aunts, cousins, bubbies and zaydas, parents and children. After my grandfather died, the Passover gathering was moved to Fort Dodge where our family - coming from such Judaica centers as LeMars and Ames - guaranteed a minyan at the synagogue. The demands of family and Fort Dodge's Jewish community sometimes clash. My father and mother would enjoy the choir and canlorial prayers of the High Holidays in Omaha's synagogues. A Sabbath at Beth El here brings them out shaking their heads about how they miss such services.
The Kotoks, Jonases, the Ducoffes and others will take these recent arrivals under their wing, invite them for dinner, ask them to the synagogue and good naturedly joke how the services the High Holidays will find are different from those in the city. myBut parents in Fort Dodge again. They are needed there to ensure a minyan to start and finish the serIn a recent conversation with vices. My father is the only Herbert Jonas, a scholar of Kohanim, the first aliyot in the veterinary science as well as Torah service. His obligation is Talmud, I realized how a comthere. munity like the one in Fort Dodge can preserve Judaism. Dr. Jonas, My brother Steve and I did go lay leader of the congregation, "East" to find brides. We found was uncertain about the quality of our future wives, both brought up Jewish life in Fort Dodge. But he in kosher homes, at the University was very committed to sustaining of Iowa. His wife came from a very real Jewish identity for Waterloo, Iowa, and my wife, those who live in the town and the Shane, was from Rock Island, 111. towns surrounding it. As I sat with Dr. Jonas and discussed Jewish life in the small town, I recalled the time my wifeand I found a Hannukah menorah
Fort Dodge Jews have even made a contribution to larger Jewish communities. Among those Fort Dodgers in Omaha is Rose Blumkin.
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September 25.1981
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By Bert Lewis . Gwen Shapiro Pred sal with me last August and tried to answer my questions about her early chifijhood. "My hometown was Grand Island, Nebr., which was a community of about 20-25,000 . people. Unlike the Lyons, Nebr., of my husband's youth however, we had perhaps 20 Jewish families". Gwen went on to say that the tiny Jewish group "had weekly Sabbath services, and although there was no synagogue, we managed to gather in a meeting hall, often joined by Jews from nearby Hastings and Kearney". She pointed out that "for the High Holidays we always went to Omaha, but some of the local folks did remain and hold services at home, since there was always somebody present who was capable of leading the davening". This arrangement must have made small town living a bit easier for her parents, who both were raised in Omaha. Mrs. Shapiro was the former Esther Ferer, daughter of Rose and Reuben Ferer, and was born in Omaha. • Gwen's father, Maurice was born in Russia and brought to this country with parents, Fannie and Max Shapiro, as a baby. Esther'and "Moe" met and married in Omaha, and moved early in their marriage to Duluth, Minn, (seeking improved business op• portunities). In 1929 Moe Shapiro heard of a clothing store for sale in Grand Island and thus the family moved to the town that would be Gwen's home for her first 15 years. Mr. Shapiro opened Tilt: WAIlDFtOUE, a ladies clothing store, in June, 1929. Gwen recalled "I got along well with my friends and schoolmates, although I remem-. ber-not really understanding why EVERYBODY had Christmas and WE had Hanukkah", Esther Shapiro provided a completely Jewish atmosphere for her family. Gwen remembers "a strictly kosher home, which meant more than a little inconvenience, , because the meat had to be shipped in. In fact, my mother never ate trayfe, and her nonJewish friends knew it and respected her beliefs". Gwen recalls that when social occasions outside the home included food, fish or some other meat substitute was always remembered for Esther. Though her recollections were sketchy when I asked if the Jewish families tended to band together, Gwen said, "yes I'm sure they did. There were so few of us Jews in that town, that whether one liked all the others or not, we did reach out to each other. We were, after all, the Jewish Community of Grand Island." "No matter what the non-Jewish influence was, at home we were Jewish, with every tradition practiced and made a part of daily life," says Gwen. She went on to explain, "I had groups of friends with whom I attended school functions, but I didn't date any single boy on a girl«oy basis...it just wasn't done!" Although Grand Island is 135 miles from Omaha, the family often drove in for "a visit and a corned fteef sandwich". It would appear from listening to Gwen that a con' centrated effoilt was made to always maintain a strong tie to the larger Jewish community. Although Moe Shapiro was a successful and contented businessman, he and Esther appan/itly felt a great concern for the lack of Jewish contacts in Gwen's life,
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Jewish Press
September 25.1981
The Best Of Everything In The New Year To All People Everywhere From The
KATZMANS MmteroraR
Ray Pred, center, wlth'sons, Marshall and Mark. Ray Pred, Boy Scout
The only family in town
OMAHA
By Bert Lewis
"When I was a little kid, I used to think all Jews were my cousins, because the only ones I knew were related to me" said Ray Pred during a recent conversation. I had asked him to tell me his memories of what it was like to grow up in a small town. Ray's earliest recollections were of life in Lyons, Neb., a community of 1,000 people - and the Pred family were the only Jews. The family can't be counted as early pioneers, however, since Ray's father Mike, was born in Russia and came to this country as a small child with his parents. The family settled in Omaha, where Mike grew up. As a young man, he went to St. Paul, Minn., probably for a good job opportunity. There he met Annette Rosenblum, whose people had come from Europe much earlier. In fact, Annette had been born in St. Paul. They married in 1923, and moved to Pender, Neb. where they lived during the early years of their marriage. By the time they moved to Lyons in 1931, the family consisted of parents, grandfather (paternal) and sons, Gordon and Norman, soon to be joined by Ray. Mike Pred had bought a mercantile store, and settled down to supply the clothing needs of their town. "He was well-liked," Ray recalls, "a good salesman, and happy to be in the quiet environment of a small community". When asked about his mother, Ray replied "my mother •, probably the most completely Jewish person I ever knew. Judaism was of paramont importance to her, and even though we were the only family in town, she made certain we knew we were Jewish!" He remembers candles on Friday night, and can clearly remember changing dishes at Passover time. "We were surrounded by non-Jewish neighbors and friends, but Sundays were nearly always spent visiting with Jewish relatives and friends from nearby small towns". "Childhood," he told me, "was a happy time, and I don't think my life in the little town was much different from that of my friends, though I'm sure it was very different from my Omaha peers. I was active in sports, and our Boy Scout troop probably was more important to me than such things were to city kids. Also, the public library no doubt meant more to me than it must have meant to youngsters in larger towns." Formal religious education was not within easy proximity, but having a grandfather in the house was a help. Ray recalled that although only his brother Norman had a Bar Mitzvah, his grandpa taught him to read Hebrew. He said, "my grandpa never complained, but I'm sure he would have liked to be close to a synagogue." The same remark was made about Annette Pred. "We were always aware that we were a Jewish family, because my mother simply directed our thinking to that knowledge. She no doubt would have preferred to live in a larger community, but she believed that being Jewish came from within one's self, not from external forces". When anti-Semitism was mentioned, Ray said, "I can't honestly remember any such problem", giving the impression there was obviously a successful blend with the nonJewish population, though at home, the Preds were Jewish! Even so, being normal kids, they were apt to argue for the right to play ball on perhaps a minor holiday. Again, this Jewish mother insisted that her sons adhere to certain Continued on Page 82
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September 25,1981
Owen Pred
Continued from Page 80 because when she completed the ninth grade, they moved to Omaha. Gwen describes her entrance into Central High School as "a real culture shock! The kids were much more sophisticated than my former friends and I". But the young do adapt, and in time she blended into the originally frightening group. High school graduation was followed by study at both the University of Nebraska and Omaha University. During that time, Gwen met Ray Pred, and in August of 1957, they married. They are the parents of two handsome sons, and 1 couldn't resist asking her if she would have chosen to raise her boys in a small town. She only gave it a split second of thought, then said "no - I've had the experience of bothtenvironments. This is better". Gwen has very special feelings about living in this Jewish community. She says she "appreciates the Jewish way of life more than those who always had it". She doesn't tend to take for granted the fact that her synagogue is some 40 blocks from her home, unlike the 135 mile distance of her girlhood. And Gwen's involvement in Jewish community affairs and organizations says much about her personal priorities. ^ _
Joffe, Kully, Grossman, Insurors
Ray Pred
Continued from Page 81
traditions. •-. Of course for the High Holy days they routinely came into Omaha. Listening, I couldn't help but speculate about the feelings of Annette Pred, who could proudly speak of greatly revered rabbis and cantors amoung her ancestors in Europe. "As soon as I got my driver's license, I acquired a Jewish social life, because that meant I could drive into Omaha or Sioux City and date Jewish girls" explained Ray. This was, no doubt, the beginning of his departure from small town living. He believes that by the time it would have make a real difference to the Jews in Lyons, he had graduated from high school and gone off to the University of Nebraska. His parents remained until the mid-sixties, when they moved to Omaha. By that time, Ray and Gwen Shapiro had married. Ray owns and operates THE WARDROBE, a men's clothing store, and he and Gwen are the parents of Mark, 22 and Marshall, 20.
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September 25,1381
A question of survival Many Jews worry about the future quality of Jewish life in their community. Some wonder if it will survive as far into the future as it has come since the first Jewish settler arrived in town. Lincoln has a Jewish population of about 750 people. For its size, Lincoln has a surprisingly high level of Jewish activity. Since we also worry about the future, we imagine that the Jewish families in Nebraska towns and cities to our west worry even more. At one time there were enough Jewish families in some towns to maintain their own High Holiday services and to gather for simchas. Today any who wish to be with fellow Jews on these days must travel to Omaha or Lincoln. On a daily basis, the Jews of Kearney, Hastings, Grand Island, Norfolk, Beatrice, York, cannot sustain an organized Jewish community. Knowing that, should the Jews of these communities urge their children to live elsewhere? Should they themselves plan to retire to other more Jewishly-populated places? Maimonides taught in the 12th Century that a Jew was not permitted, by Jewish law, to live in a community unless it had a doctor, a public bath, a school for children (Jewish education), and a quorum for public prayer. In a sense, a Jew should not move into a community that cannot sustain the minimum of an organized Jewish life. May the New Year bring you good health, peace and prosperity
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But, in truth, the viability of Jewish life in Nebraska's small towns probably depends more on economics than on religious convictions. Economic opportunity brought Jews to Nebraska towns in the first place, and in all likelihood, economic opportunity or lack thereof, will determine whether or not some Jews will move into them. Such matters are beyond our control. What is within our control is the connection the Omaha and Lincoln communities have with our fellow Jews in Nebraska's smaller towns. Do the Jews of Lincoln and Omaha have any obligation to reach out to their fellow Jews in Kearney, Hastings, Grand Island, York, Norfolk, and Beatrice? Do the Jews in these towns want to welcome Jewish visitors into their communities? Are the Lubavitcher Hasidim the only Jews willing to be circuit riders who will knock on the door of a Jewish home or business just to shake the hand of a fellow Jew? Must the Jews of Nebraska's smaller towns always come to us? Perhaps, in addition to Jews outstate coming to programs or religious services in Lincoln and/or Omaha, we who live in Lincoln or Omaha ought to ask to be invited to visit a centrally located town for an occasional Jewish program and social gathering outstate. Would you want us to come? Would you want to go? Rabbi Mark J. Bisman Tifcreth Israel Synagogue Lincoln, Nebraska
Births Mr. and Mrs, David Abelow Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Bowers Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey Robinson Mr. and Mrs. IvanVolgyes Mr. and Mrs. Sabersky-Lehmann Bar and Bat Mttzvah Heidi Lea Breslow Charles Geffen Friedman Harry "Hap" Pocras Lori Lynn Smith Ori Twersky Marc Ward.
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Joyous New Year
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A dying congregation Continued from Page 58
Mrs. Nathan Moody, wife of an Anglo-Jewish dentist who was the only nonGerman member of the congregation, turned to the Episcopalian church after the closing of the synagogue and raised the couple's children as Anglicans. "It was the usual story of the assimilation that 19th century reform led to," said Swarsensky, himself a reform rabbi. "They regarded the preservation of their historic religious identity as a sin against the spirit of the age of Universal Brotherhood which they thought was dawning." Meanwhile, though, the dying congregation, even as its sons and daughters left the Jewish fold, remained conscious enough of its identity to be concerned about keeping up its image in the community. It became a policy that the synagogue should bever be turned over to any group of a nonreligious nature, and hence the Unitarians were succeeded by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the First Church of Christian Science, and the English Lutheran Church. The spirit of Universal Brotherhood evaporated only once: before a request by Madison's first Russian-Jewish congregation to rent the synagogue. The Gates of Heaven was sorry, but its constitution stipulated that worship in the building must be done by bareheaded persons only. "Having anything to do with these people who insisted on sticking to their old country ways was out of the question," said Klauber's daughter. In 1916 the congregation finally sold its synagogue for $7,000-to a funeral home, inexplicablyand proceeded to go out of existence in one last burst of good will. After paying the city $1,500 to take over permanent care of its
cemetery, the congregation-which now consisted of three old men-left amounts of $1,000 or more to a Milwaukee orphanage, a Madison hospital, and the Chinese famine fund. Amounts half that size or less went to a fund for the Relief of Starving Coreligionists in Russia and to the Palestine Foundation Fund. In 1922 the congregation was dissolved. After the funeral home was done with
the Old Synagogue, the building served successively as a tearoom, a government record storage center during World War II, a dental office, a veterinarian's clinic, and as campaign headquarters for 2nd Wisconsin Congressional District Representative Robert Kastenmeier. Then, on June 23, 1972, two years after the rescue of the Old Synagogue and its removal to James
Jewurt Press
September 26,1361
Madison Park, the Gates of Heaven saw its first Jewish service in 93 years as David and Cindy Siker "roughed" their wedding in the gutted sanctuary. Hopefully the members of Madison's first Jewish congregation, if they chanced to witness the ceremony through their peepholes in heaven, were not too put off by the fact that the bridegroom wore a skullcap.
Rise and decline Continued from Page 77
"It is the New Year again." "The small, greying Jewish community of Council Bluffs will bow its head for its annual confession in an almost empty synagogue that has grown old with the congregation." "My children and their children will visit the cemetery without me. I can no longer climb the grassy knolls nor walk unaided for I, too, have grown old with my aging shul." "When my children tell me about the cemetery, my thoughts return to my youth when the synagogue and the Jewish community were alive with activity." "As I think of the history of the Jewish community, I hear orice more the mournful call of the auctioneer and the response of the congregation as they bid for an honor at the High Holiday services." "I remember the men as they scramble to sit on pews at the eastern end of the shul." "I recall myself in the balcony with my sisters, my daughter and many other women. How well I remember my husband and my sons in the seats below who glanced up to the balcony from time to time to catch my eye." "It seems only yesterday my children would leave the shul on Yom Kippur, sneak to the grocery store on the corner and break the fast. They always believed I didn't notice." "The Jewish community of Council Bluffs is old. Soon there will be nominyans." "One day my grandchildren will chant the Kaddish for the synagogue of Council Bluffs.."
BevKrasne Continued from Page 25 Beverly says, "My kids missed out by not being with Jewish friends during their growing up years....but that's not to say it can't be made up later in life". The remark that always summed up her thoughts was "I miss my Jewish contacts my friends". She learned early how to bring at least a little of the mountain to Mohammed. Every Passover for years and years, the Krasne table in Fremont is where the Omaha branch of the family congregates for Seder. I asked how many usually were present and she said casually, "Oh I don't • know, 25 or 30 maybe. Years ago there were as many as 60". I was never present, but I know as well as I know my own name, it must bring an abundance of pleasure and joy to Beverly, to sit down at her table, dear ones surrounding her, celebrating tradition. It just so happens that this lady and I shared that early time of her life in Omaha. -v We were girlfriends, schoolmates and mischiefmates...we "ran in the same crowd". Well, the only change I can discern is that she's now a very nice Jewish lady! THE
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Mrs.Samuel S. Kaplan Mrs. Jack Levey Mrs.LeoFettman Mrs. Dorothy Brandt Mrs. Fannie Chunovic Miss Marion Strauss .Mrs. Lou Levy Mrs. Morris Ruderman Mrs. Harold Franklin Mrs. Isaac Nadoff Mrs. Lou Delman
Kalah Franklin Chapter President Mrs. Abe Klopper Vice Presidents Fund Raising Mrs. Mandell Landsman Membership Mrs. Jennie Bear Mother-In-Israel Mrs. Max Sacks Treasurer Miss Gayle Wezelman Dues Secretary .Mrs.FrankSekar Recording Secretary Mrs. Nate Richards Publicity Mrs. Milton Nearenberg Tribute Cards Mrs. Lou Lewis Social Arrangements-Co-Chairman—Mrs. Ida Potash. Mrs.Morris Franklin Advisors (Retiring President)Mrs. Ida Potash Mrs. Jennie Bear Mrs. Morris Franklin Honorary Advisor Mrs. Isaac Nadoff
Women's American ORT President Martha Lerner Vice Presidents Membership SheilaJacobsen Education Claudia Sherman Honor Roll Debbie Rosenthal Community Affairs Sheryl Lee Recording Secretary Linda Dunn Corresponding Secretary Karyn Rifkin Financial Secretary Anthea Mazer Parliamentarian Pam Cohn Continued on Page 8 7
Happy New Year
Stuart "Dick" Rochman CBS Real Estate New Year Greetings
Barco Municipal Products Happy New Year
Vitamin Stores JoeZweiback Best Wishes
Eisenberg Art Gallery Happy New Year
Master Furniture & Appliance Go. 149 W. Broadway
Council Bluffs
BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR
BEEF NEBRASKA, INC. Mike and Joe Erman
s
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1
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September 26,1961
Jewish organization officers 1981-82
BETH BRODKEY WISHES YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Continued from Page 86
National Council of Jewish Women
1&467w. center rd. •
baker square
omalxi •
President Ellie Penner Vice Presidents Community Services Vicki Perimeter Membership Susie Silverman Ways and Means Janie Kulakofsky Education Sandy Epstein Recording Secretary Pam Friedlander Corresponding Secretary Connie Slutzky Treasurer Sandy Kutler Assistant Treasurer Claire Passer Financial Secretaries Corinne Annenberg, Saranne Gitnick, Leanne Goldberg, Leslie KuUy, Rita Novak Parliamentarian Sally Malashock Immediate Past President. .Jan Schneiderman Directors Bonnie Horwich, Pearl Lipton, Sue Meyers, Judy Roffman, Dottie Rosenblum
(402)330-3422
i
Harry and Cleo Wolfson wish you a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year
Wolfson Used Cars 1308 No. Saddle Creek Rd.
558-3233
Council Bluffs Co-Presidents
2830 " O " Street
Omaha
731-2875
Hadassah Marcie Gallner Sally Telpner Lee Eveloff Sarah Sacks Fannie Gordon Toby Richards
Synagogue Officers Continued from Page "4 Beth El Sisterhood j
Attorneys at Law Yale Richards Steven J. Riekes Paul M. Brown Harold M. Zabin Robert I. Bobor MlchaelJ. Rubach John P. Pogge
A WISH FOR HEALTH & HAPPINESS FROM THE SHERMANS LOUISE, LEO ELLIE.MIKE&TIFFANI
Happy New Year The Carriage Shop and Cricket West 176 Regency Fashion Court Shopping il tomtlhing tpeciolot Iht Urgency Foshlon Court
Best Wishes for a Healthy, Happy New Year
Katelman Co. Antiques 144 So. 39th St.
['resident Vice Presidents Administrative Catering •• Cultural Ways and Means •Secretaries Financial Financial Recording Treasurer Directors 1980-82
Toby (Mrs. George) Kagan Barbara (Mrs. Robert) Epstein Jeanette Ban Rose Ferenstein Gloria Kaslow Gloria Goodman
Myrna Bloch «... Beverly Rich Denise Greenberg Marlene Kahn ...RitaNovak Ann Margolin . •• Esther Graetz 1981-83 , PamJacobs Marlene Solomon Debbie Rosenthal Beth El Men's Club
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Past President
New Year Greetings
Vera Tepperman Edythe Krasne
Vice Presidents Programs Fund Raising Treasurer Financial Secretary . Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary
Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year Richards, Riekes, Brown & Zabin, P.C.
[Jhe. (];usria.«»<! Shop
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from Gene. Lou and Charlotte Rich BUJIftiff PMOTHK JStVKC, VK. 401? South 24th'Street. Omaha. Nebraska 68107
an d
uru J
Where you can eat chicken at its very bestwishes you a very happy New Year Old Mill Shopping Center 639 No. 109th Court 496-2090
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CRAFTSMAN B'nai Jacob Adas Yeshuron 4102 S. 24th St.
733-8772
"OMAHA? WINDOW COVERING SPECIALISTS"
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merican National Bank Member FDIC
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September 25.1981
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5741 Marriages 1980-81 GROOM BRIDE Ellene Abrahamson . ..Stanley Edelstein JudithDoreen Abramson . .NormanA. Krizelman Roxanne Alloy Terrance McGuan Dawn Marie Baker Edward L. Beber Rebecca Sue Bleicher Brent Michael Bloom Nancy Claire Breslow RamonS. Somberg Paula Bucheister Melvin Katskee Cynthia Deborah Cerise . Jerold Steven Schneider Susan Chapman Sheldon Schwartz Bethaviva Cohen Harry Silver Julie F.Coheji Mark David Martin Joni Crounse Richard Moline Mary Beth Davidson Bruce Muskin Joan Faier Andrew Tanner Carol Feigenbaum Michael Staenberg Rachel Fettman Dr. Chaim Heifetz Edith Goldstein Harry Freed Renee Hirsch Louis Wolfson Isobel Hurwitz Marc Leverant Debbie Jacobson Mark Glotter Debra Ann Katleman Jeffrey Alan Smedlund Pamela Laganas Robert S. Brody Helen Lerner Dr. Hans Frenkel Anne Leyden Michael James Meyers Jone Lohrman Douglas Laguens Lisa Malacoff Gary Epstein Lisa Miller James Albert Rose Polonski , Steven Viny Cindi Ruback Mark Lowen Louise Jean Seier Joseph Eisenberg Sharona Shapiro David Lerner Kathy Simon Rick Snail Laurie Smeerin Loren Kabb Suzanne Richards Somberg Irvin Singer Trudy Ann Tobias Michael Howard Salkin Lisa Trustin Jeffrey Alan Corbett Sherri Weiss Gary Lee Green Susan Wintroub David Duitch Alyson Wolens Richard Slutzky Florence Zavidovique Robert Brodkey Janet Zipursky
Sidney Thompson
Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year
SolS. Parsow
David Parsow
Regency Fashion Court 120 Regency Parkway Between Pacific b Dodge
397-7900
Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year.. . Karen Diamond
B'nai, B'not Mitzvah 5741 BAT MITZVAH CELEBRANTS
Roxie Alloy Melinda Sommer Ban Deborah Esther Cohen Danielle Epstein Deborah Epstein Melinda Fischer Babette Louise Fishier Shari Forbes Andie Gordman Lisa Gordman Andrea Joffe Jeri L. Kaplan Susan Kirshenbaum Jennifer Beth Levitan Kathy Mann Wendy Michelle Novicoff Gwen Oberman Caroline Pieck Jill Alyson Platt Lisa Ross Platt Suzanne Riekes Linda Beth Roffman Caryn Michelle Sadofsky Barbra Shkolnick Joanna Simon Debra Snyder Susan Beth Tucker Jennifer Lyn Turkel Julie Weiner Natalie Weinstein
1980-81 BAR MITZVAH CELEBRANTS David Ben-Yaacov Philip Berman Scott Brezack Jason Franklin Kyle Gershman Robert Goldberg Bradley Alan Goldstein Mark Horwich Corey Allen Kaplan Alan Louis Kohll Charles Levy Gary Steven Luefschuetz Brian Benjamin Martin Jim Nachman Johnathan Novak Phillip Oren Mark Cammeron Passer Daniel Scott Redler Paul Roy Roffman Richard Rosenblatt Mark Rosenblum Marc Shkolnick Jeffrey Slutzky David Benjamin Spizman Jeffrey Steinberg David Alan Weill John Robert Weiil Brian Yampolsky Robert Andrew Yudelson Steven Zabin David Zacharia •
egALLERY 119th&pacific*334-9282 Best Wishes to Our Many Friends and Customers
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September 25,1381
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Holiday Greetings and our wish that the coming year will be filled with health, .happiness, and peace.
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Subby's Women's & Men's Hairstyles 391-9882
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Order Your New Year's Flowers Today
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330-1480
HAPPY NEW YEAR
KaagSkkaBel Air Plaza 12100 West Center Road
333-1414
Floorbrite Roorbrite 333 South 78th St.
Your headquarters for residential carpet cleaning and complete commercial building cleaning services.
HHPPV flEIU VEHR
SONS Mr. and Mrs.Norman Bennett Mr. and Mrs.Dan Bleicher Mr. and Mrs.Norman Bleicher Mr. and Mrs.Joel Thomas Boehm Mr. and Mrs.Menasse Bohbot Mr. and Mrs.Jim Bresel Mr. and Mrs.Gene Cha_ves Mr. and Mrs.Tom Cole Mr. and Mrs.Harding Collis Mr. and Mrs.Brian Cote Mr. and Mrs.Marc Delman Mr. and Mrs.Jerry Faier Dr. and Mrs.Rick Gilinsky Mr. and Mrs.Robert Goodman Mr. and Mrs.Mark Jacobson Mr. and Mrs.Gary Jayitch Mr. and Mrs.Russell Johnson Mr. and Mrs.Leslie Joseph Mr. and Mrs.Lawrence Josephson Mr. and Mrs.Ed Kaminsky Mr. and Mrs.Charles Katzman Mr. and Mrs.Jim Kirshenbaum Mr. and Mrs.Mark Kohn Mr. and Mrs.Seth D. Levy Mr. and Mrs.Richard Lipshutz Mr. and Mrs.Neal Malashock Mr. and Mrs.Donald Moore Mr. and Mrs.Ira Nathan Mr. and Mrs.Michael Perimeter Mr. and Mrs.Stephen Pew Dr. and Mrs.Mark Pilley Mr. and Mrs.Bruce Poster Mr. and Mrs.John Robinson Mr. and Mrs.Richard Robinson Mr. and Mrs.Errol Saltzman Mr. and Mrs.Robert H. Slutzky Mr. and Mrs.Jeffery Lynn White Mr. and Mrs.Robert Wolfson Mr. and Mrs.Barry Zoob Mr. and Mrs.Barry Zorinsky
DAUGHTERS Mr. and Mrs. David Berman Mr. and Mrs. Irvin G. Blumkin Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Denny Mr. and Mrs. Ron Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Frank Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gerber Mr. and Mrs. Scott Gilinsky Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ginsburg Dr. and Mrs. Carl Greenberg Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Greene Mr. and Mrs. John Katelman Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kirshenbaum Mr. and Mrs. Steve Nogg Mr. and Mrs. Gerold Paul Mr. and Mrs. Gary Rifken Mr.- and Mrs. Marc Romanik Mr. and Mrs. Mark Salomon Mr. and Mrs. Richard Slosburg Mr. and Mrs. Greg Wadleigh
Shalom Zena & Bennett Fishbain Barbara & Allen Chandler
TheStaff of the Jewish Press wishes everyone a very Happy New Year
Happy New Year To My Friends and
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BOTTLE SHOP
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4S31 Dodgo
356-0790
M a y you and yours be inscribed for a good year
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Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy
/.....
I
New Year
Ben-Joan-Howard Professional Uniforming for the Profession^ Nurse-Lab Tech-Dentist-Doctor
f:'
PIONEER UNIFORM 4875 So. 132 St. 896-1244 (next to Drawing Room)
Our Best Wishes to All 393-2356
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Schwartz Insurance Agency 110 North Mth St.
5741 Births 1980-81
Page89
Jewish Press
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Holiday Greetings
553-5825 Hi-Way House Motor Inn —1-80 and Hwy. 370 Chalet Motor Lodge~16th Er Ave. G, Co. Bluffs Max and Rose Novak . Jerry and Linda Novak Harold and Rita Novak, andShana Amy and Larry John and Sheila Anderson, Cindi and David
Z££
SMART SHOP
1
1
I 107 No. 50th
553-0767
•'V-\wr"\7£
September 25.1981
Jewish Press
BBYO Officers
A Happy New Year Les and Jan Schneiderman
KB Foods, lite* Supplying Institution and Restaurant Food Service Needs 4330 SOUTH I02ND 5TREET. OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68127
MAYFAIR TEXTILES, INC JACK E. COHEN MARVBROOKSTEIN
Happy New Year
TRAVELWARE LUGGAGE CO.
Adult Board Regional Director Chairperson Vice Chairperson Treasurer Secretary
Sharon Miller Root Shirley Greenberg Patricia Tatelman Don Greenberg Linda Simons
Eli and Pearl Jabenis 341-7498
t a. la Cvde BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Regional Becky Kozlen Marcy Frost Lisa Manvitz Julie Morwich Kathy Kenyon
Lamps - Shades - Lamp Repair Personal Attention in Your Selections
BARBARA SERPAN
Ediar
1123 Howard 346-5388
May you have a sweet and fruitful year.
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Editor Historians Madrichs MIT-MOMS
Lori Blatt Debbie Levitan Jennifer Hornsby : Jessica Lazer Cindy Simons Margo Hackel Kathy Kenyon Kathy Kenyon, Lisa Manvitz
346-9706
I IMPORTED HOME ACCESSORIES OF DISTINCTION
B'nai B'rith Girls President Vice President Treasurer Secretary MIT-MOM
1416 Harney
611 BEL-AIR PLAZA 120th and CENTER STREET OMAHA, NEB. 68144
140 GALLERY MALL GATEWAY SHOPPING CENTER LINCOLN. NEBRASKA 68605
A Very Happy NEW YEAR
M.Z. Yoshanah President Vice President Secretaries
3040 Cuming 344-3800
Treasurer Editor Historian MIT-MOMS
Happy New Year from George Kokkalas and the staff at
FOX
Joe and Helen Fishel
1501 No. 33rd
553-5893
Ner Tain id Presidents Vice President Secretary Treasurer MIT-MOMS
Gourmet Dining
Parliamentarian-Historian
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Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year Marlene and Stewart Kahn Bob &Tom STEWART K A H N & COMPANY ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR 333-8399 333-8408
Larry Widman Howard Feldman .Steve Wasserman Bennett Ginsberg Tom Kahn
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Sergeants-at-Arm
Scott Tatelman Marc Brodkey Steve Ferenstein Larry Gershman Dave Cohen Alan Breslow
AZA 1510 Chaini Weizmann President Vice President Secretary
Hal Seiner 392-1550
Happy New Year
Stewart
Larry Chickie
David Deanna
1408 Harney
AZA 100 Century Chapter
PHONE 397-9600
KARBACH CONSTRUCTION CO.
7561 Dodge
Regional President Aaron Kaslow Vice President Dave Cohen Treasurer Steve Goldberg Secretary Marc Brodkey Recording Secretary Steve Ferenstein AZA1 Mother Chapter
happy J&MW mmon ninu
Happy New Year
Amy Novicoff Jill Rosen Cindy Lehr Amy Bernstein Lori Erman Wendy Greenberg Gail Handleman Elizabeth Epstein Nancy Friedman
AZA
1212 So. 119th St.
833 Meadow Rd. Omaha, Ne.
Laura Yampolsky Margie Singer Wendy Rosenblatt Eileen Kader Amy Mann Barb Comisar Becky Kozlen Randi Gordman
i
Kevin
342-2611
Bob Lohrman Karen Franko Darrell Vincent
TRAVEL
agency, inc.
Bruce Fellman Jim Baker John Glazer
Treasurer ...,„,.„,.,.,.,...,,.,,,.,.TmSchrager
Travel With Ui The Tower Way Omaha Tower Bldg. Suite 150
2120 So. 72nd St. 393-2500
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September 26.1981 LIFE MEMBER RESIDEMrS CtUB
Happy New Year
5741 Deaths 1980-81
purveyors of (ins wines and gourmet foods
al regency plaza pjvone 397-8777
1H6 south 1O5th street omaha, nebraska FRED HAUSS
MEL BORNSTEIN of
•)>.
0
Omoha'i Leading Temporary Help Service
Wishes the Jewish Community a Healthy, Happy New Year
Holiday Greetings
SoS Heating — Cooling — Electrical Safes and Service 391-2336 or 391-26*1—. 8322 Maple St. t l o r o y Stuohm, Ownor
Omaha Ron 331-6943
New YearGreetings
or
554-1666
4801 Dodge
if:
HAPPY NEW YEAR j
Harry and Libby Lewis Denny and Lisa Lewis •Herb and Elaine Tepperman
Bessie Abraham Harry Abramson
Elizabeth Kaiman Harold Kaplan Howard Kaplan
SMITH BARNEY. HARRI5 UPHAM A CO
3O6 KK'iKNfy PAHKWAY OMAHA. NK1IKA3KA OBI 14
INCORPORATED'
Hymen Adler Julius Arkin Dr. A.A. Berger Harry Berger Dave Bernstien Eureka Bezman Anne Blatt William Boasberg Morris Bloom Rose Brand Dr. Morris Brodkey
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Best Wishes for the
New Year Ladies Ready to Wear Seasons change but never the discounts at the Foxxy Shop'r.
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S&ivice ONE STOP AUTO REPAIR
Happy New Year
(conoco) 1507 South 120
appointmonts appreciafH. Shuttle Service available Available to JCC
«...„.
^.
UOth&Dodm
(J block! South oil 20th S Poci(ic) M-F 6:30-8^0 (1 mile eoi t of BoyiTown) JJJ-M9* & 313-111* Sot. 7-noon 1 3 1 - M M & 133-WIS
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Joe Tess Place & Joe Tess Fish Market 733-9766
5460 S. 24th St.
Joe Tess Place 6572 Ames
451-8580
Samuel Shiff Basia Spanier Joseph Speigal Libby Sterenberg Izzie Stiss
Martin Herzoff Ida Hess Hilda Hoffman Gertrude Hollander Sam Hornstein Lillian Hurwitz
Frieda Suvalsky Sarah Turitz Jennie Turkel Jennie Veitzer Morris Wax
Manny Iseman Louis Jacob Abe Jacobs Julia Jacobs Jack Jacobson Dora Marie Joffe Robert Joseph
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from
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I
Erwin Wezelman Clara Wintroub Jennie Wright Eli Zalkin Hymie Zorinsky
Wishing you a year of Health and Happiness
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Jerry Rosen
7400 Place on 74th & Pacific 391-8880 Monday-Saturday 9o.m.-i0p.m.
REALTORS SINCE 1856
Tom Bernstein
Rosen Auto Leasing 4104 South 90th Street
331-8020
in
P a g * 92
Jewish Press
H:
September 25.1981
New Books: In the Beginning by Isaac Asimov. New York, Crown Publishers, 1981. 284 p. Asimov compares the Biblical account of Creation with the scientific astronomical account.
Breaking Ranks by Norman Podhoretz. New York, Harper, 1979.375 p. This book is Podhoretz's story of his intellectual and political odyssey which took him from liberalism to radicalism and to the neo-conservative position that has made him both influential and controversial.
The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter. New York, Basic Books, 1981 125 p. Alter reads the Old Testament stories with new eyes-the eyes of a literary critic. He analyzes the interplay between narration and dialogue, showing how the characters both reveal and hide themselves through the words.
The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism by Dennis Prager. New York, Simon & Schuster, 1981.216 p. This book offers a logical moral argument for restoring Judaism to the center of one's life.
Hooded Americanism by David Chalmers. For more than a century the KKK has struggled against social change and for a white, Protestant, conservative America. Chalmers follows the Klan's history through every state in the Union. Ghost Walti by Ingeborg Day. New York, Viking Press, 1980, 244 p. Day grew up in wartime and postwar Austria, coming to this country as a KVyear-oId exchange student in 1957. Only then did she learn about Hitler and the Holocaust. Witness to the Holocaust by Azriel Eisenberg. New York, Pilgrim Press, 1981. 649 p. This is a collection of memoirs and documents by survivors, witnesses and historians of the Holocaust. The Dreyfus Affair by Egal Feldman. Michigan, Wayne State University Press, 1981. 187 p. This is a study of the impact of the Dreyfus affair in the United States in relationship to many important issues. Conversations with Kabbi Small by Harry Kemelman. New York, Morrow, 1981. 276 p. One of literature's most popular detectives explores a greater mystery: the meaning of Judaism. Self Protrait of a Hero. The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu. New York, Random House, 1980. 304 p. This is the posthumous publication of the private correspondence of the Israeli commander, the only military casualty, of the rescue raid on Entebbe.
Memoirs of an Anti-Semite by Gregor von Rezzori. New York, Viking. 1981.287 p. The stories in this five-part novel tell of five especially significant junctures of his life with Jewish friends, lovers, and, ultimately, a Jewish wife. Jacksonlan Jew by Jonathan Sarna. New York, Holmes It Meier, 1981. 233 p. This book is about the life of Mordecai Noah, the first Jew to attempt a definition of assimilation that would preserve a degree of Jewish autonomy in Christian America. Judaism for Non-Jews by Jacob Savin. New York, Vantage Press, 1975. 170 p. An incisive explanation of the fundamental background, history, and philosophy of Judaism as it should relate to twentieth-century Jewish living. TJie Woman Who Lived In a Prologue by Nina Schneider. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1980. 479 p. Recollecting episodes in anything but tranquility, a Jewish matriarch traces her progress from immigrant daughter to emigrant grandmother,, spiriting her peace-activist grandson across the border to Canada during the Vietnam War. l>ost in America by Isaac B. Singer. New York, Doubleday, 1981.259 p. The author recalls his last year in Poland where the threat of the Nazi invasion was anticipated by the Jewish Community and of his life in America in the mid 30's. The Terror Network by Claire Sterling. New York, Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1981. This is an in-depth account of terrorism in action. Unrelated acts of violence are interconnected, deliberately and ominously in an international network...extending from Havana to Teheran. Yesterdays Streets by Silvia Tennenbaum. New York, Random House, 1981. 528 p. Tennenbaum creates a picture of a family whose lives are irrevocably altered as they are swept up in the maelstrom of history. It is the portrait of four generations of German Jews and of a vanished civilization.
A far cry Continued from Page 14 out, unfortunately, to be a sound premonition. A few weeks later came word that Jake Shrago had been killed in battle on Nov. 10, 1918--one day before the Armistice was signed. "A woman from the Red Cross came with a neighbor woman who had also lost a son," recalled Mrs. Freed. "Together they boke the news to us, and both mothers cried on each other's shoulders." Also after a few weeks, said Mrs. Freed, a letter came from a war buddy of Jake's who told Mr. and Mrs. Shrago that as their son lay dying he asked that his parents by told that he was "happy to die for his country." (I am the grandson of the interviewee. On a trip to Europe in 1971 I looked up the grave of Jake Shrago at an American military cemetery in northern France and had a cross which mistakenly had been erected over the grave replaced with a Star of David.) After Elizabeth and Abe finished school, the Shragos moved to Omaha, mostly, said Mrs. Freed, for fear that the children would intermarry if they stayed in Sigourney. Both did eventually find Jewish spouses in the big city. But Elizabeth never forgot the small town. Remembering the get-togethers of friends and cousins, she said, "Let me (ell you, we used to have a picnic. Just a picnic!" Mrs. Freed, who belongs to Hadassah, Bikur Cholim, Mizrachi, and Beth Israel Sisterhood, and regularly attends Older Adults activities at the JCC with her husband Sam, lives at 6814 Maple St.
The White Hotel by D.M. Thomas. New York, Viking Press, 1981.274 p. The White Hotel deals with matters as central to the twentieth century consciousness as psychoanalysis and the holocaust, but at its heart is the intimate chronicle of a woman's life.
best wishes fora happy, healthy new year noddle development co. shopping center and commercial property development
The Jews of Argentina by Robert Weisbrot. Philadelphia, Jewish Publication Society, 1979. 348 p. Weisbrot traces the history of the Jewish population in Argentina from the Inquisition to Peron. The Testament by Elie Wiesel. New York, Summit Books, 1981. 346 p. This novel is the tragic memoirs of a Russian poet whose social idealism leads him to replace his religious heritage with the false doctrine of Communism, and the bitter disillusionment that results.
Warmest Wishes for a Happy New Year
Village Inn Pancake House
Best Wishes to AH Our Friends fora Very Happy, Healthy New Year The Manny Goldbergs Martin Rosenstein
The Charles Susmans The Marty Schects
• I
September 25,1981
All American Match and Specialty Co., Inc. Happy New Year from
Bud and Joan Bernstein Debbie and Julie
Personal Greetings A May the blessing of peace, contentment and good health be shared by all our family and friends in the New Year. HENRY & SALLY APPEL
B A Very Happy New Year To You and Yours
May the blessings of peace, contentment and good health be shared by all our family and friends in the New Year. FRANCES & NORMAN BATT Mil. & MRS. PHILIP II. BATT and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, prosperous New Year.
Boys • Girls • Pre-teens at the Westroads
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Happy New Year "Mft
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DR. & MRS. ABE D. FAIER and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year. NATE FERER wishes all his relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year. May the blessings of peace, contentment and good health be shared by all our family and friends in the New Year. CANTOR LEO & ANNETTE FETTMAN IDA & IRVING FORBES and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.
MR. & MRS. SAM T. BERMAN wish all their MR. & MRS. MORRIS J. relatives and friends FRANKLIN and family health, happiness and extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a peace in the New Year. happy, healthy, prosperous May the blessings of peace, New Year. contentment and good health be shared by all our family and friends in the May the New Year bring New Year. RUTH health, happiness, peace prosperity to BRESLOW & DAVE and everyone. ALAN, SLOBODISKY GLORIA, JOE & PATTI May the blessing of peace, GOODMAN contentment, good health and prosperity be shared BOB, ELLY, ANDIE & by all our family and JAY GORDMAN wish their friends in the New Year. ' friends health, happiness MILT & ESTHER BLOOM and peace in the New Year. May the blessings of pe... , contentment and good MRS. FANNIE SHERMAN health be shared by all our CHUNOVIC and family family and friends in the extend warm greetings and New Year. MR. & MRS. good wishes to all for a GARY O. GROSS happy, healthy, prosperous May the blessing of peace, Mew Year. contentment and good May good health and health be shared by all our prosperity be yours family and friends in the throughout the year and New Year. ETHEL & MOE years to come. NATE & GROSSMAN CELIA COOPER
H MR. & MRS. OSCAR DIAMOND and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.
from he employees of
F
MR. & MRS. DAVE HAHN wish all their relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year. YALE HALPERIN and family wish all their relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
May the New Year bring health, happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone. AYN & JACQUE MR. & MRS. MORRIS DOLGOFF, BROOKLINE, HOFFMAN and family MASS. extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year. May the New Year bring health, happiness, peace MR. & MRS. JULIUS and prosperity to HORNSTEIN wish all their everyone. ABRAHAM relatives and friends EPSTEIN health, happiness and peace in the New Year. MR. & MRS. JACK G. EPSTEIN and family May the New Year bring extend warm greetings and health, happiness, peace good wishes to all for a and prosperity to happy, healthy, prosperous everyone. EDITH HURNew Year. WICK
Jewish Press
Pag«83
JERRY LEOr" APPAREL FOR BIG OR TALL MEN Westroadc • 44th & Dodge St.
129th &W. Center Rd. Other Stores in Minneapolis • St. Paul • Komai City forgo « Overland Park « Wichita • Danvor
Greetings for the New Year to all our friends and customers from
Joe Polonski and Family
AK-SAR-BEN TV SERVICE CO., INC. 3021 North 93rd St. 572-8010
'Ess Gesunterheit'
L'Shanah Tovah A Happy, Healthy New Year and OUR THANKS for your patronage.
Sue and Joel Brezack
SINCERE HOLIDAY GREETINGS Represented by J. Brookitoln louli Fadman Lao Brand
Jo* G U M PaullnaOuu Arnold Rouman
SomR.Seka Phil Handleman Lillian Broolutaln
SERVING THE MIDWEST HOMEOWNER FOR OVER A HALF A CENTURY R U K O Combination Windows and Doors,
Roofing, Siding, Mlcalum Awnlngt Phone 342-6500 In Lincoln — 936 So. 27 St. • 476-2046
MIGKUN
• IMPROVEMENT COMPANY 1702 CUMING O M A H A , NEB.
J«wuh Press
September 25,1981 •,
May you b e / blessed whh health ands. happiness in £> the New Year
L'Chaim
Best Wishes fora \Happy, Healthy New Year
*
BELGRADE COMPANY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS UK U. IK IT
120 North 69th St.
Personal Greetings H
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May the New Year bring MR. & MRS. ROBERT health, happiness, peace prosperity to HURWITZ and family and LOUIS extend warm greetings and e v e r y o n e . good wishes to all for a LANCER, MOLLIE & LOU happy, healthy, prosperous DELMAN, MORRIS & BESS BECKER New Year.
May the New Year health, happiness, and prosperity everyone. DR. & ALLAN JACOBS family
bring peace to MRS. and
and peace in the New Year.
K May the New Year bring health, happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone. BOB. ESTHER & STEVE KATLEMAN MRS. DAVID M. KATZ, Council Bluffs, and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year. ABE & RUTH KLOPPER and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.
MR. & MRS. JACK LYMAN of Edmonton Canada, (formerly Mrs. Leonard Pinkovitz) extend good wishes to all for a healthy, happy New Year.
COMMERCIAL LITHOGRAPHING CO. 3716 Leavenworth Streef Omaha
4400 S. 96th Street • Omthi, Nebraska 68127
JZsbonah
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BEBE & NATE MARCUS & FAMILY extend warm grevtings to their relatives and friends both near and far for a New Year of health and happiness. DR. & MRS. J. MILTON MARGOLIN wish all their, relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
THE STANLEY MITCHELL FAMILY wishes MRS. SADIE KOHN and all of its friends a healthy, family extend warm happy, peaceful New Year greetings and good wishes MORRIS, to all for a happy, healthy, R U T H , ROBERT AND ALAN prosperous New Year. MALINE with everyone a happy, healthy New Year. May the New Year bring health, happiness, peace and prosperity to every. May the New Year bring MRS.BERTHA KOLNICK health, happiness, peace and prosperity to May the New Year bring everyone. MORRIS & health, happiness, peace ROSE NADLER and prosperity to everyone. NORMAN & May the New Year bring GERTRUDE KORNEY health, happiness, peace and prosperity to L'Shana Tova Tikatevu. everyone. JEANETTE & DAVID & SHANE KOTOK AL NEPOMNICK and family THOMAS P. NEUMAN wishes everyone in the May the New Year bring community a New Year health, happiness, peace full of good health, hapand prosperity to piness and peace. everyone. MR. & MRS. JOSEPH G. KRICSFELD
MR. & MRS. SAM M. KUTLER and family wish all their relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
Omaha Steaks
SOI. AND IDA MANN wish all their relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year
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New
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MR. & MRS. SAUL LIBOWSKI. JEFF & JUDY wish all their relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
MR. & MRS. AARON LEVIME & MRS. ARNOLD May the New Year bring LASSER and family wish health, happiness, peace all their relatives and and prosperity to friends health, happiness everyone. O L G A and peace in the New Year. JACOBOW BERT & LEONARD send warm EDWARD & ELSA KAHN LEWIS wish all their relatives and greetings to all for a happy friends health, happiness and healthy New Year.
MR. & MRS. JEROME KAIMAN and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.
Happy New Year
MR. & MRS. MICHAEL PLATT and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.
May the sound of the t Shofar Usher a Year of 1 Health Happiness and Peace CAPITOL LIQUORS, INC. 1 tO NORTH 12TH STREET
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RoyC. Feltman President Omaha Wholesaler •i't
Budweiser - Michelob - Busch - Natural
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t
September 25,1981
Personal Greetings p
ranian^
Mums n( San Francisco
and
Cudiva Chocolate
wishes you and your family a very happy and healthy' New Year. Blum's candios are certified kosher
120 Regency Fashion Court
391-6952
May Yoyr Holiday Be Joy®ys
Old Market
Westroads
Best wishes for a year of health, good cheer and peace.
Rodeway Inn 10909 M Street
331-8220
)
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Continued MR. & MRS. MAX PLATT wish all their relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
ADDIE & MYRON SEGELMAN and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous MR. & MRS. MELVIN New Year. PLOTKIN & FRANCES PLOTKIN and family JERRY VENGER & extend warm greetings and RUTH SELDIN wish all good wishes to all for a their relatives and friends happy, healthy, prosperous health, happiness and peace in the New Year. New Year. MR. & MRS. MORTON May the New Year bring PLOTKIN and family health, happiness, peace extend warm greetings and and prosperity to good wishes to all for a e v e r y o n e . AVEVA, happy, healthy, prosperous MARTY & RACHEL New Year. SIIUKERT
May the blessing of peace, contentment and good health be shared by all our family and friends in the New Year. IIAKLAN, H1I0IM, COREY & JAMIE PKIESMAN
MR. & MRS. DICK SPIEGAL wish all their relatives and friends health, happiness and peace in the New Year.
May the New Year bring health, happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone. DR. & MRS. STEVE, M A R G O , MAURICE STEINBERG SUZANNE & ARI RIEKES wish all their relatives and MR. & MRS. SOL friends health, happiness STEINMAN and family and peace in the New Year. wish all their relatives health, happiness and May the New Year bring peace in the New Year. health, happiness, peace and contentment to all our family and friends. JANICE & JERRY May the blessing of peace, contentment and good UOSINKSY and family health be shared by all our From sunny Arizona family and friends in the DOROTHY Rl/BENSTErN New Year. Love WALTER sends warm greetings to & HELENA TICHAUER wish dear Omaha friends joys of a happy and healthy I would like to wish my children, Eric and Scott New Year. Freiberg and all my friends in Omaha a happy, healthy, prosperous New May the New Year bring Y e a r . LEATRICE health, happiness, peace TUCKER,Branford, Conn. and prosperity to everyone. PAUL SACKS
R
May the blessing of peace, May the New Year bring contentment and good health, happiness, peace health be shared by all our and prosperity to family and friends in theeveryone. SALLY M. New Year. MR. & MRS. VENGER SAM SACKS, Council Bluffs
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May the New Year bring MR. & MRS. HARRY health, happiness, peace WEISSMAN wish all their and prosperity to relatives and friends everyone. ELLIE & ABEhealth, happiness and peace in the New Year. SCHLOFF MR. & MRS. SY SCHNEIDER and family extend warm greetings and good wishes to all for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.
Your family deserves what our family is famous for. Quality. It's the i'nd result of making macaroni and spaghetti fromdurum uheat.thefines! pusta ingredient inihe world. Durum wheat gne\ Skinner mavjmni and spaghetti ihcir rith. golden color, (inn yet tender consiMcnfy; and delicious llavor. .„«_.. f ^ual((> It's what you >)tou!U took ior in the pasta you buy f t \ y,hji your family deserves. It's whui our luiuily is fujnous for.
May the New Year bring health, happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone. THE YUTKIN FAMILY
May the New Year bring May the blessing of peace, health, happiness, peace contentment and good and prosperity to health be shared by all our everyone. PAULA SCH- family and friends in the WALB, NATAN AND New Year. MARK, SUSIE, HANNAH SCHWALB and SARA & DAVID ZALKIN, family Los Angeles DR. & MRS. MAURICE B. SCHWARTZ and family May the New Year bring /extend warm greetings and. health, happiness, peace prosperity to good wishes to all for a and LUCILLE happy, healthy, prosperous everyone. ZELINSKY New Year.
Jewish Press
Page 95
Our best wishes for a very Happy Rosh Hashanah
Nebraska Kosher Meat Market Dave and Joe 4902 Hamilton
558-5262
L'ShanaTova to our relatives and friends in Israel and Omaha. Our wish is peace for Israel and the World.
Carl's Tailors Clothier, Inc. and
1000 South 72nd St.
Joyous
PEOPLES Across the I-480 Bridge 323-6822
29th 6 West Broadway Council, Bluffs, Iowa
STER ELECTRONICS
331-9313
To Our Customers, Friends and Their Families:
May the year you're starting Bring health and happiness to you. And may you be especially Blessed and prosper in Everything you do.
Magda and Sam Fried Jim, Susan and Ed
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PagaW
Jewish Press
September 25. 1981
Rkkmon Gordmofi We're just perfect for you
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