,901(01060 NFiJP HISTORICAL 1bO0 R ST ,LIi IC UL N Nr
SCJC
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920
Vol. LXIII No. 12
NEW YORK, (JTA) — Leon Dulzin, chairman of the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organisation Esicutives, asserted here that "while I run not free to dbcuss it publicly, I can tell you that "the Jewkh Agency is preparing for a sudden jump in immigration, far beyond the figure we projected for this the coining year. Ono of the ancient tribes of Israel is due to return to its homeland." In a broad-ranging free-wheeling address at a meeting of the WZO-American Section, Dulzin declared that when the true story of the Jews of Ethiopia is told, "We will take pride in what wo have already achieved in this moat difficult and complex rescue operation. At the came time, a huge task ctill confronts us." He also spoke of the undaunted courage and steadfastness of Soviet Jewry which is suffering cruel discrimination and hardship. He said the "Soviet Jews are the great Jewish heroes of the day." Dulzin expressed optimism about the solution of Israel's problems by the new unity government, increased aliya because of the growing acceptance of local community commitment and responsibility, and strengthened Jewish education.
He emphasized that, without a government of national He emphasized that "the renewed strength and vigor of unity, Israel could not take the steps needed to eolve its your North American Jewish communities ^derives today inflationary crisis. He Enid "the people of Israel ere begin- from the fact of the State of Israel. You are made stronger ning to experience whet will be a severe levering of their •as Jewa by the constant input of Israel into the stream of living standards.". . • Jewish consciousness." Dulzin also pointed out that the United States and Canadian Jewish communities were beginning to comprehend Premier Shimon Peres' vision of Israel's economic future "as technological headquarters of the Middle East." . Regarding the Jewish Agency, Dulzin said that "as a consequence of drastic cuts in the government budgets," it is "under tremendous pressure to assume responsibility once more for activities it had turned over to the government because of its own financial stringency." He said these developments are the challenges which will concern the Council of Jewish Federations and the United Jewish Appeal's current campaign. Dulzin paid tribute to the CJF and the UJA, and said "We Jews have built the most effective networks of help in the history of men — the community federations."
Dulzin also pointed out that "diaspora Jewry's landmark decision to accept aliya as part of our common agenda was a milestone in Jewish history. We salute tha communities that have undertaken, with the cooperation of the CJF, pilot programs to test various approaches to.organized community involvement in aliya." Concerning the threat of assimilation, he said he felt "n new hope and optimism about Jewish education. The Jewish Agency Board of Governors has approved the implementation of a program to further Jewish education by the intimate collaboration of the American and Canadian Jewish communities and Israel." Dulzin said the Agency "has enlisted a new cadre of distinguished community leaders under the chairmanship of Morton Mandel," a past president of the CJF.
By Morris Maline A $2,069,377 budget for 1985 has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Jewish.Federation of Omaha.
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The budget includes $1,180,034 for local services^ $870,581 for the United Jewish Appeal and $15,950 for national and overseas items. Capital repairs and an allowance for Campaign shrinkage make up the balance.
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The 1985 budget is $18,160 more than the 1984 amount. The 1985 Campaign is projected' to provide $1,741,162 with the remainder coming from investment income and endowments.
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The Jewish Community.Center was the setting for a Brith Milah (circumcision ceremony) on Nov. 25. This ib believed to be the first time, that the JCC has been used for the religious eventvvhich usually is held in the synagogue, home, or hospital. Dr. Philip and Diane Rich are shown with their three-year-old son, Adam and their eight-day-old con, Brandon. Rabbi Paul Drazen and Can- i tor Emil Berkovits officiated and Dr. James Wax performed the surgery.
MIAMI BEACH, (JTA) — The Union of American Her brew Congregations (UAHC) has adopted a nationwide program to stem the "epidemic" of suicide among teenagers who have "fallen through the Jewish safety net of family and synagogue." The program, believed to be the first attempt by any national religious'organization to deal with suicide among young people, was approved by the UAHC's Board of Trustees today after liearing a report by UAHC president Rabbi Alexander Schindler confirming a high rate of suicide among Jewish teenagers. ' The Board, holding its semi-annual meeting" here, authorized the establishment within the.UAHC's 770 Reform congregations of a new institute to be called "Yad Tikvah" (Hand of Hope) which will serve as a training, research and - educational ce*hter forReform Jewish activities to deal with teenage suicide. ...--....-
Schindler's report noted that suicide among adolescents has reached "epidemic proportions." Every day, 18 young Americans kill themselves, a 300 percent increase over the
Omaha, Neb., Frl, December 7,1984
The Jewish Federation budget provides funds for a variety of local services in addition to its allocations for Israel and other overseas needs. Allocations for 1985 include the following: Jewish Federation operations, $250,180; Vaad Hakashrut, $8,379; Federation Foundation, $20,000; Jewish Community Center, $270,501; Bureau for the Aging,
past 20 years. Suicide now is the second leading cause of death among young people, after accidents, many of which are suspected suicides, Schindler said. He noted that the Buicide rate for young people was higher among college students than among those who do not attend college. "Because the percentage of Jewish youth attending college exceeds that of the general population, we must draw the grim conclusion that the suicide rate among Jewish youth is also disproportionately high," Schindler said. ' ' • • • ' - '
group servicesj $92,565; Community Relations Committee, $74,209; Bureau of Jewish Education, $157,459; Jewish Family Se)r*ice,. $88,284; Jewish Federation Library, $85,119; Jewish Presa,t^42i332. ' ; •- • In presenting the budget, Robert Gord; man, chairman, Budget and Allocations Committee, said that because revenue sources are not keeping up with community needs, Federation agencies were asked to bring in budgets not exceeding 95% of last year's allocation. They did such a good job in this respect that it was possible to fund some additional requests once,the basic needs had been satisfied, he said. • Howard Kaslow, president, Jewish Federation of Omaha, commended the Budget and Allocations committee and said that the process begun under Don Greenberg's chairmanship and carried forward by Mr. Gordman has shown "enormous progress."
The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith will honor Lavonne Curtis for 25 years of service. A reception will take place Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Adult Lounge of the Jew' ~~ ish Community Center. Mrs. Curtis is secretary and office manager for"the ADL/CRC office at the JCC. She aids Sheldon Filger, ADL Plains States regional director, in serving the region.
"These troubling statistics," he said, "are confirmed by alarming reports of suicide among Jewish youth which we are receiving from rabbis, educators,'counsellors and youth leaders across the country." " In response to Schiridler's report, the UAHC Trustees established a task force on teenage jsuicide to train rabbis and teachers in Reform congregations "to recognize the warning signals of this sickness," to develop educational materials for a suicide prevention program and to devise "some means for crisis intervention on a national regional and perhaps even congregational level."
According to Mr. Filger, Harold Adler, a former Plain Statesregional director based in Lavonne Curtis Omaha, and now director of administration for ADL's national office in New York City, will officiate at the honors ceremony in Omaha. Dr. Carl Greenberg, president, ADL/CRC) said, "Lavonne has provided the Omaha Jewish community with 25 years of outstanding service, and it is truly fitting that Her contributions be recognized and applauded by the entire Jewish community."