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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXIV No. 42 Omaha, Nebr.
20 Tammuz, 5747 Friday, July 17, 1987
U.S., Israel agreed on Iranian contact WASHINGTON-(JTA)-Lt. Col. Oliver North said that while Israel and the United States may have had some different objectives in the Iranian initiative, there as a "basic fundamental agreement" on the need to open contacts with the more moderate elements in Iran. "I believe that there was sufficient congruence between Israeli objectives and American objectives that made this project worthwhile," North said during his third day of testimony before the Senate-House special committee investigating the IranContra affair. He said both countries "saw the need to get to some faction within the Iranian government that would lead to a more moderate, more pro-Western government in Iran, if not immediately, then over time."
The former National Security Council aide explained that both countries feared that with no relationship with Iranian moderates, the "chaos" that might result when the AyatoUah RuhoUah Khomeini dies would allow the Soviet Union to move into Iran. In addition. North said there is need to control the threat from "Iranian sponsored fundamentalist Shiite terrorism" which, he stressed, exists not only in the Middle East, abut also in the Phillipines, Indonesia, and elsewhere in the Far East. Explaining the different objectives of Israel and the U.S., North said that the U.S. wanted an end to the Iran-Iraq war, while some in the U.S. believe "Israel may like to see the war go on."
'Who is a Jew?' defeated 60-56 The Knesset has defeated two controversial bills which would have given the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate exclusive right to approve conversions performed abroad. A measure introduced by the ultraOrthodox Shas Party would have amended rehgious regulations dating from the British Mandate in Palestine by requiring that all converts to Judaism procure the Israeli Chief Rabbinate's endorsement to be fully recognized, as Jews in Israel. Despite support from Premier Yitzhak Shamir, it was defeated by a vote of 60-56 with four MKs absent. A proposed amendment to the Law of Return, sponsored by the National Rehgious
Party, would have had the same effect— invaUdating conversions performed by nonOrthodox rabbis in cases of Jews-by-choice seeking Israeli citizenship as Jews.' It was defeated 62-53 with two abstentions and three absences. This bill has been defeated each timecit has been brought before the Knesset in past years. Shamir pledged to the Shas Party two months ago that Likud would "do all in its power" to gain passage of the Shas measure. He made no secret that this was to be in exchange for Shas support of Likud efforts to prevent the Labor Party from dissolving the Knesset and calling early elections.
A Jewish perspective on State of Nation
AJCongress' 'Inventory of Democracy' warns Jews of 'single issue' danger The American Jewish Congress has cautioned the Jewish conununity against being seen as a "single issue" community whose only concern is the survival and security of Israel. The Jewish organization st^s that such a limited view of the American Jewish community "is a misperception shared even by some good friends of Israel and of the Jewish people." The warning is contained in a new A JCongress publication entitled 'Inventory of Democracy: A Statement of Priorities for 1988 and Beyond.' But the statement is careful to stress the continued importance of Israel in Jewish life. The publication sets forth the organization's stand on a range of domestic and foreign issues in light of current American policies. Theodore R. Maim, president of AJCongress, said this is a first attempt by a major American Jewish organize-
tion to assess a broad range of developments and issues in contemporary American Ufe. Copies of the 24-page document are being distributed to members of Congress and the Administration as well as to organizations within the Jewish community. The report credits President Reagan with being flexible on foreign issueaand describes his.readiness to negotiate with the Sovjet government on nuclear disarmament as _ "significant progress." ' ---<''Moreover, on support for Israel, the Administration has "written an exemplary record that can be faulted in only a few instances." But, the statement.says that the President has earned "poor grades" on domestic poUcy, especially on fiscal ^nd economic responsibiUty, social reform, and affirmative action. It places blame on an "overly simplistic" philosophy that calls for the federal government to relinquish responsibil-
ity for the "poor, sick, elderly and the homeless." It criticizes the President for his "narrow vision of a trickle-down society in which a wealthy minority is provided with special attention and privileges, at the expense of educational opportunity, decent healthcare, housing and access to employment for ordinary Americans, including the 22 miUion Uving below the poverty line. - .The statement singles out for special criticism the federal budget deficit which it attributes to the Administration's "irresponsible fiscal and tax policies and explosive military budgets." The statement also defines American Jewish Congress policy on a number of other issues including: The Religious Right, PoUlical Extremists, Black Jewish Relations, Social Justice, Women's Rights, Energy, International Terrorism, Nuclear Disarmament, Vatican-Israel Relations, Apartheid, and Middle East Peace.
National ADL director dies Nathan Perlmutter, national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, died Sunday of cancer in New York City. He was 64. ServicesI took place Wednesday in Manhattan. Mr. Perlmutter joined ADL in Denver in 1949 after ^BSJV' /!;.-, graduating from law school HB^& Bif and stayed with the organi- Perbnutter zation for his entire career with the exception of time spent as associated national director of the American Jewish Committee and as vice president of Brandeis University. Last month, Mr. Perlmutter was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. "He is a hero indeed, a hero of the human spirit," said President Reagan at that tune. In addition to his wife, Ruth Ann, Mr. Perlmutter is survived by a son, Dean of Scottsdale, Arizona, and a daughter, Nina Mohit, of Prescott, Arizona.
Two local ADL leaders provided statements to the Jewish Press following news of Mr. Perlmutter's death. James Wolf of Albion, member of the National Executive Committee of ADL, said: "During my almost 38 years of association with the ADL, I had the privilege of working with two national directors, Ben Epstein and Nathan Perlmutter. I have never known two finer men and professionals. It was a privilege to work with these men. The single, most outstanding thing was that they were always ready and able to speak up on behalf of ADL's principles in a sound and convincing way. This is ADL's hallmark, to speak out regardless of the time, place or circumstances." E. Robert Newman, president of ADL/ CRC, said: "I had the opportunity of meeting with Nate in his office and have heard him speak. I have a great deed of respect for him, his views, his leadership qualities. It is a sad day for all of us to lose a man of this caliber."
'Glasnost' no help to Soviet Jewry
(PhOt0 hyAtnir Weinberg)
bpiasn in tne desert (BEERSHEVA, ISRAEL) — A Ben-Gurion University of the Negev student plays swimmiiig instrnctor to an EtUopian child at the anivwdty pool. Stndents serve as companions and tutors to efaiidrcn of an estimated 8,000 Etiikfifaii settlers in the Negev.
By Marlene Goldman NEW YORK (JTA) - Despite the new Soviet "glasnost" policy, Soviet Jews eligible for emigration are still denied exit visas, according to refusenik leader losif Begun. Begun testified by telephone to a hearing on Soviet Jewry held by the New York Council Subcommittee on Human Rights, chaired by Noach Dear of Brooklyn. "There has been no improvement in the (treatment of Soviet Jews), in our case, with immigration," said Begun from a Moscow apartment where refuseniks were gathered.
With Begun was former prisoner of conscience Leonid (Arij Volvovsky, who was released from prison in March and then was denied an exit visa allegedly because be possessed secret documents. He will not be allowed to apply again until 1992. Dear also spoke with Begun's wife, Inna, via telephone at their Moscow home. She attributed the wid^read knowledge about Begun's case to American support of Soviet Jews and said the only chance for his emigration is through continued support and pressure on the Soviet government.
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Jewish PreM
July 17, 1987
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WISE DIES AT 81 along with private counsel Dr. George S. Wise. Chan- represented her. Federal District Court cellor of Tel Aviv University and its first president, died Judge William Hart ruled in July 2 at the Mount Sinai favOr of Arlene Gold in setMedical Center in Miami tlement of her lawsuit Beach, Fla. He was 81 years charging the Chicago Police Department with religious old, Dr. Wise became presi- discrimination. dent of Tel Aviv University STUDY OF in 1963, when it had the DESTRUCTION nuclei of two faculties, 1,200 students, 150 teachers, and JERUSALEM (JTA) a temporary campus on the A five-volume documented outskirts of Jaffa. study of the destruction of Dr. Wise immediately the Jewish community of launched a massive develop- Grodno, a city in northeast ment and building program, Poland, was presented to and when he retired from the Yad Vashem Archives the presidency eight years by Nazi-hunters Serge and later, the University com- Beate Klarsfeld. prised eight faculties, a stuThe study includes trial dent body of 12,000 and a and pre-trial documents faculty of more than 1,000. from war crimes proceedThe new campus in Ramat ings conducted in West GerAviv contained 26 com- many which the German aupleted buildings, with five thorities had refused to more under construction, release until now. The Klarsfelds told a press conference RESTORATION that they are "the most imBONN (JTA)-A 500- portant collection on the year-old mikveh (Jewish Holocaust ever put toritual bath) unearthed in ur- gether." ban renewal diggings in DELAYS SALE Frankfurt's Boenerplatz, WASHINGTON (JTA) will be restored as an historic monument even The Reagan Administration though it will delay con- announced that it is poststruction of a public service poning the sale of some 60 center on the site for about F-15 fighter planes to Saudi Arabia. a year. The notification of the SETTLEMENT sale to Congress, which was CHICAGO (JTA) - A expected this week, will former Chicago police- probably not come until woman received a $140,000 sometime this summer. settlement from the City of White House spokesman Chicago in a religious ac- Marlin Fitzwater said the commodation action, ac- notification will go to Concording to the American gress at the."most propiJewish Congress, which tious time" to assure its apCLIP AND SAVE -
CALENDAR OF EVENTS MONDAY.JULY 20 YES, 10 a.m. JCC Executive Committee, 7 p.m. JCC Golf Stag, Noon, Miracle Hills ORT Planning Meeting, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, JULY 21, Old Timers, 10 a.m. C L
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 NJHS Picnic, 6:30 p.m. Youth Committee, Noon B'nai B'rith Breadbreakers, Noon, Howard Johnson's
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THURSDAY, JULY 23
Walk-in Drop-in, 10:30 a.m., Beth El Jewish War Vets, 7:30 p.m., Legion Club #1 JCAC Full Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Camp Chaverim Parents Night, 7 p.m.
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proval. The sale will go through unless both Houses of Congrress reject it. SCIENTISTS' APPEAL NEW YORK (JTA) The Committee for Concerned Scientists has petitioned the Soviet Union to allow the emigration of 21 scientists who are former Prisoners of Conscience. The plea was signed by 73 of about 100 participants at the 57th Statistical Mechanics Meeting held at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION TEL AVIV (JTA) - Tel Aviv University has signed an agreement for scientific cooperation with the University of Konstanz in West Germany, providing for exchanges of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students. The program is funded by the Lion Foundation, established by Kurt Lionof Kreuzlingen, Switzerland. TO ALLOW STUDY SPRING GLEN, N.Y. (JTA) - Five leading American Orthodox rabbis, just returned from the Soviet Union, reported here that the Soviet authorities accepted their proposal to allow six young Russian Jews to study at rabbinical seminaries in the U.S. for the purpose of ordination. CANTORS ASSEMBLY NEW YORK (JTA) The Cantors Assembly—the worldwide organization of cantors—has decided to change the site of its 40th anniversary convention from the Catskill mountains in New York to Jerusalem, in response to President Chaim Herzog's call to help strengthen Israel's economy through tourism. "Despite the added expenses we decided to hold our convention in Jerusalem, July 7-21," Cantors Saul Hammerman, the Assembly president, and Shalom Mendelson, the Assembly vice president, said. They said the two-week convention, to be attended by almost 1,000 cantors from 16 countries, will also mark the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.
NJHS meeting features old photos Pictures of unidentified Nebraska Jews will be made available for identification by tbofle attending the July 22 meeting of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society at the Jewish Community Center. Following a "make your own root beer float dessert" at 7:30 p.m., NJHS 1987-88 officers and board will be elected and installed. Prizes will be presented to the winner in four categories of the Morris C. Fellman "Growing Up Jewish" essay contest. Plans for the fifth anniversary celebration in October will be discussed. The meeting is open to members of the community. The picture al>ove will be among those to be identified.
A new breed of Reform rabbis in Israel JERUSALEM - A dozen bright and brash young people are turning the Israeli branch of Reform Judaism into something neyer seen before—an indigenous local movement. Hitherto a foreign import run mainly by American rabbis who spoke limited, heavily-accented Hebrew, the movement is now in the hands of rabbis who are— in terms of both language and temperament—part and parcel of the Israeli scene. Most were ordained at the Jerusalem branch of Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute.of Religion, where nine other Israelis are now being trained. Even more, important is their typical Israeli background, which qualifies them to speak with the country's silent majority, who are neither Orthodox nor atheistic. Typical of this new breed of rabbis is Uri Regev, ordained a few months ago. As a child of a secular. Labor-oriented Tel Aviv family, he would have never become a rabbi in ordinary circumstances. However, he says, he was "turned on" by his experience during a sixmonth exchange program sponsored by the Reform movement in the United States.
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Reform's major success to date has been the Israeli Supreme Court's decision in the case of Shpshana Miller, an American immigrant who was converted to Judaism by a Reform rabbi in the U.S. The Interior Minister, Yitzhak Peretz, refused to implement the court decision ordering him to register Ms. Miller as a Jew, and resigned from the Cabinet.
Uri Regev Uri was particularly enthusiastic about his contacts with American Jewish youngsters at a Reform movement camp who, he discovered, wrote their own services and expressed their own feelings in prayer. He came away convinced that Israel needed a "modem religious structure," one that eliminated "the unnatural division between religion and daily life." On returning to Israel, he became active in Tel Aviv's Kedem Reform Congregation, though he did not immediately contemplate a career in the rabbinate. That came later, when—after setting out to study law—he also decided to take courses in Jewish philosophy and jurisprudence. Uri gradually came to the conclusion that he should combine the two fields, and that is what he has done. As a lawyer, he helps lead the
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SKCMLIZIReiR
Uri is currently working on several other important cases, the most significant of which concerns the right of Reform rabbis—now denied—to perform and register marriages. The present statute says ohly that Jewish marriage services must be conducted according to Jewish law. The Reform movement argues that its . rabbis are qualified to do so, but the Orthodox rabbinate in Israel rejects this claim and Reform and Conservative rabbis are not permitted to perform weddings in Israel.
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Cultivating our own gardens By Mitchell Warren Past president, North American Federation of Temple Youth By Henry Stern
In high school I was the idealistic liberal among my friends. My association with the North American Federation of Temple Youth was natural. We NFTYites dedicated ourselves to the pursuit of social justice and to changing the world. Continually we sang, "Ani v'atah n'shaneh et ha'olam"—You and I will change the world. Happily, the past years have not altered that desire to change the world; the time has, however, changed how we actually do the changing. The ideals of repairing the world are very ambitious; improving the world is not a task that, as I once thought, can be accomplished easily or all at once. We must proceed in small steps, making each one meaningful. We have not always recognized the necessity of moving in small steps, though. We concentrated on global concerns—the nuclear arms race and world hunger. These issues are relevant and important. Similarly, the protests concerning Apartheid and CIA recruitment on college campuses are important issues. But I am not entirely sure that these issues should be comerstones of tikkun olam—the restoration of our world. "The world is too much with us," wrote William Wordsworth. And we are not enough with our own communities. While demonstrations continue against the South African government, what of racism and prejudice in our own communities. The headlines are full of incidents that threaten the rights of minorities here in this country. Outbursts of racism persist here in our democracy. Bombs are planted in abortion clinics throughout North America. The rights of Native Americans continue to be usurped. Homophobia, fiieled by the fear of AIDS, runs rampant. We as Jews, and we as human beings, must speak out against these atrocities. We must affirm the rights of blacks and w.omen and Native Americans and homosexuals. Tragically, famine persists in many African nations, but poverty plays an all too common role in American cities. We in the Middle West should be particularly aware of and responsive to the plight of American farmers. Our attention must focus here. Moreover, we can protest the actions of our government in tentral America, but we can affect an even greater change if we turn our attention to those Central American refugees seeking sanctuaiy in America. Let us answer their call for our help and for our action. We should not and cannot ignore the problems of our complex world. We must embrace our Jewish tradition and act out as well as sing that you and 1 can change the world. We can! But repairing the world must begin with repairing our own communities and 6ur own country. We need not look beyond our own borders to find problems that demand our attention and our actions. As the French writer Voltaire pointed out in his wonderful tale Candida, we must begin by cultivating oiu' own gardens. Now. Moles-Gophers •
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Israeli loves tv "I was told that Nebraska was all cornfields, but Omaha is a big city and I'm having a great time," Neomi Shiri, 21, of Ramat Can told the Jewish Press in an interview. Ms. Shiri is working as a counselor in arts and crafts and Hebrew music at the Jewish Community Center day camp, one of such 350 counselors in the United States at this time. She has been here four weeks and will be leaving Aug. 1 to visit New York City jmd other places. "I was so surprised to find a big city when I arrived. People whom I met while working at a hotel in Ramat Gfm told me that Nebraska was just one big cornfield, but it's four times bigger than most of the cities in Israel," she said. Ms. Shiri completed two years in the Israeli army before coming to Omaha. Her duties included calling up members of the Reserve forces for active duty. In October, she will enroll at Tel Aviv University to study geography, cinema and television. . Her particular interest
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Changes of meeting dates in August will be aimounced at the next Old Timers meeting, July 21. Vice president Sam' Rosenstein presided at earlybirds. President Gerald Bemstien gave the Motzi and Sam Rosenstein led the Benschen. Birthday greetings were extended and we welcomed Joachim Boin,a new member from Lincoln, Ed Weiner from Villisca and Ed Tepperman from Council Bluffs. Sam Ban was welcomed back and Sunshine chairman • Norm Wohlner reported that Iz Levinson, Joe Bernstein and Irv Green are at Clarkson; Doc'. Slutzky is at Methodist.
ADL director Jeffrey Santis gave us the current rundown on anti-Semitism among Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan and others. He said these people are having trouble recruiting new members, but they are still active.
TEL AVIV (JTA) - Tel Aylv University art historian Prof. Asher Ovadiah has been chosen by the Israel Academy of Sciences to head the Israeli Academic Center in Cairo. He succeeds Dr. Gabriel Warburg of Haifa University. The Center provides a forum for Israeli-Egyptian scholarly exchange.
JWV POST 1260 Epstein-Morgan Post No. 260 Jewish War Veterans of USA will hold its monthly meeting following the lANE Department noon luncheon meeting July 19 at Bonanza, 108th and 0 streets. Members of Post No. 337, Sioux City, and Post No. 637, Des Moines, are expected to be at the meeting as well as Post No. 260. CORNHUSKER B'NAI BRITH On July 14, Comhusker Lodge B'nai B'rith sponsored an evening at Rosenblatt Stadium and honored the veterans from the V.A. Hospital. Members of Cornhusker Lodge accompanied the veterans, treated them to dinner and to a Royals' baseball game.
Hello cousin Michael Bar-Am of Holon, Israel, shows his cousin, Miriam Simon, his home town in Israel. Mr. Bar-Am, who recently completed his army service, is touring the U.S.A. visiting friends and relatives before returning to school in Israel. This was the first time that the cousins have met.
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July 17, 19S7
Jews welcome Christian criticism of Pope's meeting with Waldheim
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Get off noses Please indulge me for a few seconds as I fulfill a fantasy in acting like Art Buchwald or Mike Royko—big guns who know how to shoot words out of a typewriter. Like most Americans, I am intrigued with the ContraIran hearings on television and I enjoy watching the proceedings. ! As a newsman, I am particularly interested in seeing how the news media covers the hearings in the daily press. So you can see why my attention was directed to the lead story in a recent issue of the Omaha World-Herald. The headline was: North Shredded Papers Under Probers' Noses. The story under the headline was bylined The New York Times, so I assume it was written by the Times' news service and picked up by the World-Herald. What's fascinating to me is that this pinnacle o.f journalism—in the fifth paragraph— wrote "Under questioning from Arthur L. Liman, the hard-nosed New York lawyer ..." Wow! I recall working in a metallurgical laboratory while attending college and using the Rockwell HardniesS Teister on a variety of substances, but I didn't realize that it also could be used on noses. The New York Times news service must know something that I don't know because this nose test is something that probably is applied across-the-board in the legal profession. So I looked further in the story to find out whether Oliver North's attorney had a hard, soft, or mediumboiled nose. Alas, Brendan V. Sullivan, Jr. must not have a nose. It wasn't mentioned. • But his name did appear, followed by the descriptive' phrase: "one of the most prominent lawyers in Washington." Naturally, as an editor of a Jewish newspaper, I wonder? Is Arthur Liman Jewish? Is that why he has a nose? Is Brendan Sullivan Irish Catholic? Is that why he doesn't have a nose? In the story, attorney Sullivan was quoted as shouting at attorney Liman to "Get off (his client's ) back." Well, at least he didn't say get off his client's nose. I would suggest that noses be deleted on news stories and that reporters stick to the facts. '
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NEW YORK (JTA) - American Jewish groups were heartened by the concurrent dismay of Catholic and Protestant leaders in the U.S. over the audience P<^ John Paul II granted Austrian President Kurt Waldheim at the Vatican. They were especially gratified by the statement of Archbishop John May of St. Louis, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, that he sympathized with Jewish concerns and agreed with their urgent call for a "further dialogue" with the Pope on the issue. "We particularly appreciate his sensitive comments about the importance of the Catholic-Jewish dialogue and friendship that has been achieved in this country," Henry Siegman, executive director of the American Jewish Congress, said. "We fully agree with him about the need to protect this achievement from then unhappy fall-out from the decision of the Vatican to grant an audience to Kurt Waldheim." Gunther Lawrence, spokesman for the.Synagogue Coimcil of America, an organization of Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews, said: "We think the bishops are saying they understand the hurt .of the Jewish community. We think it was highly commendable for the bishops to take the time and effort to speak out." Msgr. Peter Finn, a spokesman for John Cardinal O'Connor, the Archbishop of New York, said O'Connor concurred with the statement by the Conference of Catholic Bishops. But he thought the bishops' role should be that of advisors and it was up to the Pope to decide whether there should be a further meeting. Eight Protestant churchmen, representing different denominations at leading American universities, signed a statement protesting the Pope's invitation to Waldheim. They agreed it "is primarily a Roman Catholic problem," but "as Protestants we want to make our distress known. The invitation disgraces the memory of Christian martyrs who opposed Nazi idolatry. The invitation dishonors the memory of the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. The wounds pf the Lord's people cannot be sealed so lightly," the statement said, quoting Jeremiah 6:14. The signatories are the Rev. Doctors Franklin Littell, United Methodist Church, Temple University; William Harter, United Presbyterian Church, Chambersburgh, Pa.;Hubert Locke, The Christian Churches, University of Washington; David Lewis, Assemblies of God, Springfield, Mo.; A. Roy Eckardt, United Methodist Church, Leheigh University; James Wood Jr., Southern Baptist Convention, Baylor University; George Williams, United Church of
Christ, Harvard University; and F. Burton Nelson, Evangelical Covenant Church, North Park Theological Seminary. Three Catholic women leaders noted in a statement that the Pope's decision to grant an audience to Waldheim "has been interpreted by some as a papal gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation. This is a dangerous interpretation and reason enough to dispute this ill-advised visit," they said. It continued: "Society must judge Waldheim's deeds. But who on earth can forgive him? Surely such absolution ultimately lies in the hands of his victims, Jewish and nonJewish ... Whatever the Pope's motives were in agreeing to such a meeting, a public appearance together at an official audience appears as absolving Kurt Waldheim from the consequences of his actions ... It can easily and unfortunately be interpreted as part of the pattern of the Church denying the consequences which its own long history of anti-Semitism have had for the Jewish people." The statement was signed by Doctors Eva Fleischner, a member of the Advisory Conunittee for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the National Conference of Bishops; Sister Mary Jo Leddy, founding editor of The Catholic New Hmes of Toronto; and Sister Carol Rittner, director of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in New York. Catholic members of the Christian Study Group on Judaism and the Jewish People noted that Waldheim has been implicated in the execution of Serbian Christians and the deportation and execution of Jews in Greece and Yugoslavia. ''We understand that receiving heads of state does not imply Vatican approbation of those leaders' actions, either past or present," their statement said, recalling that the Pope has received military dictators such as Jean-Claude Duvalier of Haiti, Augusto Pinochet of Chile and Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines. "Nonetheless, the particularity of the Holocaust places in question the appropriateness of such a visit between the Pope and Mr. Waldheim." The statement added, "As Roman Catholic scholars ... we join our National Conference of Catholic Bishops in supporting the request by Jewish leaders that, prior to the Pope's September visit to the United States, there must be a substantive meeting between John Paul II and American Jewish leaders to clarify this and other issues regarding Jewish-Catholic relations." The statement was signed by Sister Celia Deutsch, Sisters of Sion; the Rev. Edward Flannery, Diocese of Providence, R.I.; Dr. Eva Fleischner, Montclair State College; and the Rev. John Pawlikowski, Catholic Theological Union.
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The travel season is upon us and Omahans are taking to the friendly skies to visit all sorts of interesting places. To the Editor: Interestingly, the Soviet Union is on the travel agenda To the Editor: Jewish attorneys and others interested in the plight of of more than a sprinkling of the Omaha Jewish community. I promised a friend in Jerusalem that I would try to One would think that if a Jewish individual were plan- oppressed humanity in the Soviet Union have a rare oppor- secure information for her concerning a relative of hers that ning to visit the Soviet Union, some effort would be made tunity on Aug. 10-11 in San Francisco when the American inoved to Omaha in the 50's and with whom she has lost Bar Association's annual meeting votes on the abrogation contact. His name is Barney Drevich, formerly of New Jertoward making contact with his fellow Jews. This would be the natural, the right thing to do. After of its current "Declaration of Cooperation" with the Associ- sey, and apparently he was in the clothing business. His all, we are aware of the plight of Soviet Jewry, and there ation of Soviet Lawyers. cousin, Bessie Schwartz of Har Nof, said her cousin was Spokesmen for the ABA" have acknowledged that the the son of either Noah or Ephraim Drevich, her father's are things that can be done: people to see, messages to take, medicine to be transported, all sorts of deeds to give hope ASL is not a professional organization, and that it is simi- brothers, and that her father had at one time lived in lar to or maybe even worse than the Goebbels Propaganda Matowa, Poland, before coming to the States. to our people. And there should be no fear, for these actions are cer- Ministry of Hitler's Third Reich. Barney Drevich apparently had been very kind to her and The ASL is a propaganda and persecution arm of the her mother and they unfortunately lost contact with him tainly within the law, and no visitor would be asked to jeopSoviet government used to persecute Jews and other dis- when he moved west. The last time she had seen him was ardize his own well-being. Yet, I am told that many members of the Omaha Jew- sidents within the Soviet borders. 30 years ago (approximately). The Independent Task Force on ABA-Soviet Relations, ish community are taking vacation trips to the Soviet UnAny information you could relay to me would be greatly ion and have expressed no intent to get involved with the Inc., is continuing to work for the abrogation of this Agree- appreciated and you would be doing a great mitzvah as ment between the ABA and the ASL. Soviet Jewry crisis. well.,. This formal affiliation, which provides that both organiThis is an indefensible position. Dorothy Karpen Brandt zations are committed to the rule of law greatly aids Soviet Enjoy your trip and say hello to the family. 55/2 Hizkiyahu Hamelech propaganda and disguise of human rights abuses and Jerusalem, Israel allows Soviet law to have a legitimacy and present a human face to the world, something Soviet lawyers have not earned and do not deserve. (Founded mi 920) All attorneys interested in human rights in the Soviet To the Editor: Suzanne Singer We, too, were appalled and shocked by the incredibly biUnion are urged to attend the ABA annual meeting and PresidenI, Jewish Press Board of Directors make their voices heard in opposition to the ABA-Soviet ased program on Israel. rd members: Oliver PollaJi, vice president; Bgtt Lewis, treasurer; Susart BudWe were pleased that you responded. Your letter was exDeclaration of Cooperation. wig, secr^ary; Jill Kushner Belmont, Penny Endelman, Richard Fellman, Scott Friedman, Bonnie Horwich, Aaron HostyK, Karen Levin, Rosalie Meiches, WiUiam J. Wolf cellent and we took your cue and wrote also. We hope others Patricia Newman, Sheila PrIlucK, Judy Silt. Independent Task Force will write, and that NBC and Tom Brokaw will be drowned Morris Mallne Phoenix in a sea of letters of protest. EdItor-in-Chlel Willie and Al Ross
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To the Editor: In response to your July 3 editorial, "A Jewish Tax?," I would like to acquaint you with MAZON: A Jewish RJ^ sponse to Htmger. Organized in the fall of 1985, MAZON encourages us, as Jews, to add a three percent surcharge to the cost of a celebration or a joyous occasion. MAZON has been officially endorsed by the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). Many of the regions in NFTY, including the Missouri Valley Federation of Temple Youth (MoVFTY), of which Omedia is a part, have voteid to support MAZON by adding three percent to the cost of conclaves. As of May, 1987, NFTY had contributed $6,900 to MAZON. Many Reform Jewish teens in North America are ah«ady a step ahead and have taken on the responsibility of helping those who are less fortunate than themselves. Randi Epstein, president Omaha Temple Youth Group
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July 17, 1M7
JawMi PrM*
Pagai
Omaha teens experience their Jewish roots
The BtreeU of Borb Park feataring Koaher Pizza Parlor.
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The Jewish Plymouth Rock marldng the first Jewish community in 1654. Joseph Schif f (tour guide and urbanologist) at left; Michael Rosenblatt at right.
By Joanie Jacobaon Federation public relations director
"Roots: The Jewish Immigrant Experience" was originally a full-semeater course offered by the UTTO High School of Jewish Studies, material compiled and taught by Gloria Kaslow. It evolved into a four-day trip to New York City for 15 Omaha Jewish teenagers and their chaperones. Funding was made possible, in part, through the B'nai Jacob Adas Yeshuron Fimd and the Esther K. Newman Memorial Fund of the Foundation of the JewBryan Atiaaky: I never knew that the first Jewish people came to America from Brazil in 1664, because they were kicked out. The Russians came much later. The Statue of Liberty was the first thing they saw. They had heard about her in Europe, but when they came to this country and saw her, they knew they were free from oppression. Gail Brodkey: It's hard to believe that 8,000 Jewish people live on one blockl That's how many Jews there are in Nebraska! Everything was kosher—no milk and no hamburger pizza. I learned so many Jewish things. It was neat. I saw almost all the Jews in the world! Bert Cohen: I remember the Statue of Liberty—when you finally see it and how beautiful it is. I never realized there were that many Jewish people in New York. I felt at home—a lot more welcome. It's one thing to learn about our heritage and it's another thing to see it. Jon Fellman: I'm not as devoted to Judaism as they are in Boro Park. That's good and bad. I saw the way they live and I like the way I live better. But they know details about Judaism that I wish I did. I would like to know what they know and live the way I live. Bin Golbitz: I felt like a stranger in Boro Park. I didn't belong there. They stared at us. A girl tried to take their picture and they ran away. Living here, sometimes you don't feel comfortable being Jewish. There, it was okay. You could be a lot more free. Alan Kricsfeld: People in Boro Park knew we were Jewish but it was almost like a different religion ... to see that we came from that... well, it's just weird. If they ever have this trip again, I would encourage more people to go on it. Dan MilUmet: I was surprised to know how many Jewish people came over to the United States. It was good that
YeaUva achool bua ia Boro Park.
ish Federation of Omaha. Additional funds were provided by Beth El and Beth Israel Synagogues and by the parents of those teenagers in attendance. These young people were afforded a rare opportunity—to discover their Jewish roots by living them—to experience, first-hand, the beginnings of Jewish life in America from the 1880's to the 1920'8—Ellis Island, the garment district, Brighton Beach, the country's largest kosher penny candy store, centers for Jewish learning, Hassidic neighborhoods like Boro Park and, of course, the sights and sounds of the Big Apple... and this is how they felt about what they saw:
this country let everyone come. I felt part of a bigger outside of Israel and observe the 613 commandments. Wendy Sheldon: I had always heard and read so much religion. I felt more a part of being Jewish. about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Seeing it Scott Muskin: I couldn't believe the mass of p«ople and was eerie because I might have been standing where my all the energy. Everyone is doing something. "The dty ancestors stood when they first came to this country. is always moving. There were so many varieties of JewThe Jews got this country going. They started busiish people. In Omaha, we are a lot closer and I like it nesses and industries. We're a.minority, but it feels good better. We are more 'one.' to know that we have been able to do so much for being Mild Penner. Boro Park was like a different country—their such a small group of people. w^;:. ways are so different. The boys go to one Yeshiva, the girls to the other. They block off the streets on Shab- Roy Levine (Chaperone): I'm from Connecticut but I have bat. Really, it was just fun to be in New York. never had the opportunity to do what I did oii the Noah Pollak: Not everyone has it as good as I do and not "Roots" trip. There is a definite need in this country to everyone started out as good as I did. I knew that becreate an awareness of Judaism. A college graduate I fore, but it just didn't have an impact on me 'til I went met at work asked me, 'What is a Jew?' I would never (to New York). I felt closer to being Jewish. limit this kind of trip to only children. Everyone should Reggie Rennard: Boro Park was like taking a trip back in have the opportunity to know and feel our roots. I wish time. It made me feel like I was missing part of my reI could put everything I heard in a little box and listen ligion. The trip didn't make me more religious but it to it whenever I wanted. made me more aware. Now when people ask. me what Helen Epstein (Chaperone): It was Jewishly overwhelming. Judaism is, it's going to be harder to explain. Boro Park was a world of long black coats with black An Riekes: I remember seeing how other American Jews hats and a Minyan every 15 minutes. Actually, it's a very still live in America but hold on to all their Jewish trasecure life. A woman weiars her wig and long-sleeve dress. ditions. You don't touch your man or look at him. You just take Michael Rosenblatt: I had been in Boro Park a million care of the chiltfren who go to separate schools. One times. I have great-grandparents who live there. It was woman asked, 'Where are you from?' I told her. She said, always just a neighborhood. But when I went with my 'Omaha? Are there Jews there?' friends and a tour guide, suddenly it was a Jewish neighborhood. It never crossed my mind that there were Jew- Tuffy Epstein (Chaperone): I was astounded how well our . ish people in Boro Park. The Lower East Side was just kids could think. The guide would ask questions and the a place to go shopping. Now it's a Jewish place. answers would come flying back. Our children present David Schwalb: I remember the diversity of the people, the themselves well to the world. They were terrific. The cultures found in New York City. It was so concentrated. Omaha Jewish Community can be proud of them. It's In Boro Park, you almost thought you were in Israel. what they have come to feel about themselves. They fit I never knew that Jewish people could live so religiously in this world.
Needlework—a challenge and a passion By Lynda Frank If idle hands are the tools of the devil, Hilda Budin has nothing to fear. Mrs. Budin, who turned 82 years old on , June 15, has hands that are constantly at work or play. The former Braille transcriber and teacher gave up her ' volunteer work with the blind when she remarried at the ! age of 69. As a widow she had quite a bit of time to devote to it but her husband, Harry, asked her to give it up when ; they got married. However, she still plays the piano, organ and violin. She also knits, crochets, embroiders and does tneedlepoint. "Needlepoint is my current passion," she said. : The aimt of Omahan Barbara Berenson, the St. Petersburg, Fla., resident was in Omaha recently to visit her two grandnieces and possibly to view one of her oldest pieces of needlework. Mrs. Budin had done needlepoint for 50 years when she gave it up, giving away everything except for one piece, a seat covering that featured pansies on a green background. That piece, now framed, resides in the TV room .of the Berenson home in West Omaha. Mrs. Budin says needlepoint is a great challenge, "It's /like an artist doing a painting." Many of her works look like paintings. Some are, in actuality, replicas of famous paintings, "fiiese have included "The Flirt" by VerMeer, '"Winter Warmth" by Norman Rockwell and "Riders in the Ijandscape" by Watteau. The latter was the hardest piece .she aaid she has done. Her needlepoint piece^ also include religious themes and 'some that are scenery or animala. As a matter of fact, it y/aa a canvas featuring the Wailing Wall that got her -testarted in needleptidnt in 1984. Other religious pieces have 'included a needlepoint matzoh plate cover depicting Jerusalem, a pk:ture called '"The Bar Mitzvah" and a canvas made in Israel called "The Wedding." It takes her about three months to complete a piece and
"W^ittBg Wall," the canvas which got Mrs. Budin rertarted in needlepoint in 1984. can coet hundreds of ddUars by the time the work is finished and framed. Socially active during the day, Mrs. Budin says she does most of her needlepoint work in the evenings while she watches television. "Needlepoint tires me out," said Mrs. Budin, "so I rest between needlepoint projects by knitting." She makes skirts, tops and dresses. Until recently, Mrs. Budin made skirts and her sister made tops. Now she gives her sister the instructions so her sister can do a whole outfit by herself. Last November, Mrs. Budin was featured in the "Senior Spotlight" program on WTVT in St. Petersburg, and
Hilda Budin stands im front of paoay work. She ia wearing a sweater she made. this fall her synago^e plans to have a showing of her works. Although she has had offers frt>m people who want to buy her needlework pieces, "I have no interest at the present time in selling them," she said.
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Jawish Prau
July 17, 19S7
Bjn.. MAURICE PELTZ Word has been received here of the death of former Omahan Maurice Peltz in Skokie, 111., July 9. He was 93. Mr. Peltz is survived by brother, Keith and sister Rhoda Guggenheim, both of Omaha; daughter, Phyllis Wexler of Skokie; two grandchildren, two greatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews. SUE LEVY Services were held in St. Louis July 15 for Sue Levy. A native of Sioux City and former Omaha resident, Mrs. Levy was preceded in death, last February, by her husband, Myer. Survivors: son. Bob Levy, Santa Clara, Calif.; three grandchildren; sister. Eve Lasensky, Los Angeles; brothers, Dave Dvorkin, Omaha, Nate Dvorkin, Sioux City, Max Dvorkin, Los Angeles.
spaurks Sfr^iM Tftae Word By Rabbi Myer S. Kripke Sabbath Candlelighting for Friday, July 17, 8:36 p.m.
Beth Israel Synagogue Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat, 7 p.m. Saturday: Morning service, 8:45 a.m. Kiddush will follow in the Social Hall. Class with the rabbi, 7:45 p.m. Mincha, 8:30 p.m. The Mincha service will be followed by Shalosh S'eudot, Ma-ariv and Havdalah service. The Shalosh S'eudot will be sponsored by Shirley Berman in commemoration of the yafirzeit for Sam Berman. Sunday: Morning Minyanair* Service, 9 a.m. Weekdays: 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.
JACK BROSCOW Word has been received from Cypress, Calif., of the Blumkin Home July 12 death of Jack Bros- SERVICES: cow, former Omaha and Friday: 7 p.m. Sioux City, Iowa, grocer Daily and Saturday: and resident. The residents and staff of Mr. Broscow is survived the Rose Blumkin Home inby wife, Esther (Zusman); vite the families, volunteers son, Eugene, Cypress, Calif.; and friends of the residents daughter, Eileen Porter, to attend services in the Buena Park, Calif.; five Herbert Goldsten Synagrandchildren and two gogue. Kiddush following great-grandchildren. services on Shabbat. Burial was in California, where the Broscows have lived for the past 20 years. LILLIAN BERNSTEIN Graveside services were held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Mo., for Lillian Bernstein who died June 30. Mrs. Bernstein was an Omaha resident from 1950-196L Her husband, Maurice, died in 1954. She was a member of Temple B'nai Jehudah and its Sisterhood, Hadassah, the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, Shalom Geriatric Center and the American Cancer Society. Mrs. Bernstein, is survived by a sister, TiUie ' Steinzeig of Kansas City.
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Council Bluffs B'nai Israel SERVICES; First and third Friday each month 7:30 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat follows the service. B'nai Israel Synagogue offers services led by members of the congregation. Volunteer Cantor Major Mandy Greene leads the singing. Everyone is invited to attend. Persons interested in the synagogue or in carpools may call Scott Kotzen 402-553-3334.
TEACHERS NEEDED For the JCC Preschool We are looking for creative energetic teachers for our 3-day and 5-day programs. Work in an exciting environment with children 3 to 5 years old. Degree in Early Childhood Education (or related field) and experience with yoimg children required. Send resume to Marlen Frost, Early Childhood Director, JCC, 333 S. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154.
EXCITING TEACHING OPPORTUNITY Combines day school and synagogue school teaching. Should possess Bachelor's Degree in Education (elementary preferred), degree in Judaica, and fluency in Hebrew. Highly competitive salary and excellent fringe benefits. Send resume with references to SUSAN A. DRAZEN, Bureau of Jewish Education, 333 South 132 Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68154.
Temple Israel SERVICES: Friday: 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Stephan Barack and Cantor Harold Firestone will officiate. The summer service theme, "The varieties of Jewish experience" continues. Shabbat Morning Service— 11:15 a.m. BAT MITZVAH Hannah Miller Lerman, daughter of Ms. Lindsey Miller-Lerman and Dr. Stephen J. Lerman, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25.
Lincoln B'nai Jeshurun Friday: Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Lincoln Tifereth Israel Friday: 8 p.m. Saturday: 9:30 a.m. Morning Minyans: Monday and Thursday, 7:15 a.m.
Offutt Air Base SERVICES: Rabbi Howard B. Zyskind conducts services in the Capehart Chapel every Friday at 8 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat follows the service. Reunion The March, June and November, 1938, classes of Omaha Technical High School are planning a reunion in July 1988. Lorraine Crewdson asks anyone with information on alumni to contact her at 5452 South 48 Avenue, -Omaha, NE 68117; 402-731-9363. RE-ELECTED NEW YORK (JTA) Julian Venezky of Peoria, IlL, has been reelected chairman of the board of the State of Israel Bonds Organization worldwide.
Beth El Synagogue
This religion and that Parashat Pinhaa Sometimes students ask Rabbi Paul Drazen and why it is that during the Cantor Emil Berkovits will year there is change in the conduct the services. Amldah {the Tephillah, the Friday: 6 p.m. prayer) of the Jewish servSaturday: ice from the tezton weekServices at 9:30 a.m. For- days to the texton Sabbaths rest Knitter will give the and Holy Days. It is not Devar Torah. only that the special days A Kiddush will follow call for special mention, but services. the very tone is changed. Mincha-Ma'ariv, 8:45 p.m. Why? Sunday: 9 a.m. and 5:30 The changci has to do with p.m. dropping the 13 central Weekdays: 6:55 a.m. and benedictions of the Amidah. 5:30 p.m. The three at the beginning and the three at the end remain the same, except for very minor changes. But why drop the thirteen? Dr. Gilbert and Marjorie The answer is that these Brodsky of Needham, Mass. are prayers of petition, announce the July 2 birth of prayers that include ena son, Adani Phillip. The treaties for sustenance and Brodskys have two other the beneficence of nature. sons, Joshua, 5, and Jeffrey, And it is considered unseemly to offer petition on 3Grandparents are Mr. and the Holy Days. These are Mrs. Nat Brodsky of Holly- days for thanksgiving and wood, Fla., and Mr. and praise of God. Mrs. Bill Siref of Omaha. The fact is, of course, that petition is, generally speakDr. and Mrs. Marlon K. ing, only a small part of Weiss announce the July 3 Jewish prayer. In general, birth of their first child, a Jewish prayer is praise, son, Noah Alexander. thanksgiving. Paternal grandparents I am led to this line of are Mr. and Mrs. Bernard thought by our Sidrah. It Weiss of Omaha. Maternal opens with the reward given grandparents are Mr. and to Pinhas (Phineas the Mrs. Robert Pitlor of Lin- priest) for his impulsive act coln, Neb. at the end of the last Sidrah. Dr. Weiss is a third year He has stepped forward and family practice resident at the University of Indiana NAMED HEAD Hospital in Indianapolis. BRUSSELS (JTA) Mrs. Weiss is the former Rabbi Albert Guigui has Cindi Pitlor of Lincoln. been named the head of the Dale and Tom Lyneis of main Jewish religious comDenver, Colo., announce the munity here, which is cenJuly 4 birth of a daughter, tered around the Rue de la Regence synagogue. He sucEmily Anne. Maternal grandparents ceeds Rabbi Rene Gutman, are Ruth and Sam Goodman who left earlier this year of Denver, and the late after a year here to become Harold (Sonny) Gfirber of Chief Rabbi of the StrasOmaha. Paternal grandpar- bourg Region in France ents are Ardis and Bill after not receiving the post Lyneis of Lake Kiowa, of Belgian Chief Rabbi, which is still vacant. Texas.
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executed an Israelite man and a Moabite woman, enraged at their participating in what was a normal rite of Near Eastern reUgion. Normal, that is, for Moabites and many others. But repulsive to Israelite religion, not only for the licentiousness of the rites, but also for the assumption that the purpose of religion is entreaty, petition. If the accounts in the Books of Kings are to be understood right, this flirtation with Canaanite religion persisted during all the years of the independence of the Hebrew kingdoms, to plague our ancestors. But prophetic religion (including our Haftarah, the opening of the Book of Jeremiah) was repelled by these pagan rites, and the prophets tried manfully, desperately, to teach their contemporaries that true religion was to be found in compassion, in truth, in justice, in social concern—not in petitioning the "gods" for increase of crops and vintage and flocks tmd herds, or even increase of the human family. Jewish religion, as it emerged from Hebrew religion, can properly be termed "ethical monotheism." The end of our Sidrah includes a catalogue of the sacrifices brought in ancient times for various Holy Days. In connection with this list the Midrash tells of a non-Jew who asked Rabbi Akiba, "But didn't the Lord say that He despises your Holy Days (Isaiah 1:14)?" Rabbi Akiba answered that it is your festivals that the Lord despises, that is what humans have made of the festivals in their pollution of them; but the Lord's own festivals and Holy Days, in their purity and proper use, it is these that He honors and cherishes. For these are days that Jews devote to praise and thanksgiving.
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lme(D)la MgMs By Estelle Rosenberg Leon Nefsky, lifelong Lincoln resident and owner of Guarantee Clothing Co. in downtown Lincoln, died July 5 at 83. Interment was at Wyuka Cemetery with Rabbi Michael Joseph officiating. Mr. Nefsky attended the University of Nebraska and was graduated from Wharton School of Business and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in 1926. Survivors: wife, Lucille; sons, Robert of Lincoln and William of Atlanta; daughter, Frances Nefsky of Omaha. Robin and Jerry Zivic of Northbrook, III, announce the June 18 birth of a son, Aaron Hill. They also have a daughter, Rachel. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Goldenberg of Lincoln and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Zivic of Skokie, 111. Eileen Putter of Seattle, Wash., recently~visited her mother, Mrs. Leelo Summerhauser, and attended the 20-year reunion of Lincoln High School, held the weekend of Jiily 10-12. She was accompanied by her children, Rachel, Abigail and Adam. The South Street Temple extends mazel tov to the following members: Linda Steinman on her election as vice president of the Lincoln-Lancaster Commission on the Status of Women; Pam and Jordan Kominsky on their move to Phoenix; Edie and Alan Jost on their move to Baltimore; Jenny Sartori for being named a winner in the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program and a recipient of a National Merit Scholarship; Jim Wolf for his appointment, by Gov. Kay Orr, to the US Consti-
tution Bicentennial Commission; Anne Sartori for her appointment as a summer intern in Rep. Doug Bereuter's Washington office; Patrice Berger on her initiation as an honorary member of Mortar Board; Jean Shaw on the marriage of her son, Alan, to Virginia Myers, and on her retirement; Danny Levitov for his eligibility to compete in the state music auditons on the cello. Cathy Kushner was recently installed as president of the Lincoln YWCA. She said that she will "promote the 'One Imperative': to eliminate racism in all its forms." Ms. Kushner is an administrator with the Cornhusker Girl Scouts of America and recently completed a training institute in New York City.
Jerusalem Some of the summer programs in which young Israelis are engaged will be featured on "Hello Jerusalem" Sunday, 2 p.m., on Cox Cable Channel 7. Another segment will explore the "seam," the area where East and West Jerusalem meet. Walter Zanger conducts a tour of Tel Dan, one of the sources of the Jordan River. Showcase will highlight Americans and Canadians who have made aliyah to Israel and the problems and joys they are experiencing. The prograni repeats on Monday at 7 p.m.
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JCC offers summer dance The Jewish Community Center dance summer session will be held July 20-Aug. 14. Ballet end jazz classes will be offered at a variety of levels including pre-ballet/creative movement, adult ballet and "boys only." Contact Cheryl Kapell, teacher, or Lois Wine at 334-8200 for further information. Above, Ms. Kapell instructs, from front, Emily Bannick, Emily Kopelberg, Jennifer Rifkin and Mary Hill.
The learned man with the red beard In the early post World War I days, the malamed of that day carried a heavy and serious burden in Omaha. With very few other forms of Hebrew education, it became necessary for these men to teach the basics first and then the explanation and history of the Hebrew people. It was a most difficult task to combat, in most instances, the disinterest of the students. In the main, they would rather be playing marbles or soccer, etc. than learning Hebrew and then absorbing the many tenets. Such'a dedicated man was Harry Zisslin: learned, kind, but intense and persistent. With a deep-rooted religious and Hebraic background, chain-smoking his way through each Talmudic ses-
sion, he was soon able to turn the disinterest of his pupils into sincere participation and, more important, absorption. This beloved man with the red beard led his pupils through Midrash, Torah, Commentary and Rashi, plus teaching the basic reading and davening. There are a number of members of the Omaha Jewish community today who recall Harry Zisslin with love and admiration. For $5 a month, three times a week he patiently taught his students the basics of their people and inculcated much of that spirit he so abundantly possessed. Thanks to Art Grossman, mainly, and to Harold and Robert Perleman for passing on this information. They, among others, were students of that learned man with the red beardHarry Zisslin.
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Well, are you ready for a second installment on the subject of computers and my use of th«m? Do you recall that when I first was faced with the list of instructions telling' me how to use the magic monster 1 felt more than a little intimidated? Ok. Not to worry. My hero came on the scene and assured me I wasn't expected to learn computerese without some help. He was the help—having already had a couple of lessons and therefore become a maven. Well, maybe not a maven, but at least semi-smart. He knew which buttons to push to make the screen fill with numbers and letters ... actually they looked like chemistry formulae or trigonometry equations. But they weren't. They were part of the stuff the user learns to expect. To me they were decorations because I didn't know what else to think. No matter. What I had to learn was which steps to go through before I reached the one Which said 'write your story.' That turned into the easy step, which struck me funny b^ause I don't always consider finding a topic 'easy.' Ah-ight... you don't care about that part, so let me get to the interesting information. Before 1 knew it, I was using the keyboard, (making some errors) typing my column and feeling like maybe it was possible to teach an old dog some new tricks! I did my thing, called my mentor, who returned to help me edit and correct any errors. You want to talk magic? Let me tell you, that's one smart machine. It can pick out words that are misspelled and what's more, it spells them correctly. And it doesn't call you a dununy either. It does, however, ask you if the correction is acceptable. For a while 1 thought I was expected to write a thank you note. I decided, finally, I had met another piece of machinery that's smarter than I am and was getting used to the idea when I discovered something. It's smart, yes, but not bi-lingual. That is, it didn't understand a Yiddish word. Thank God I can still do something it can't. It makes me feel a little superior just to know that if it continues to intimidate me, even after I really am familiar with it, I can have the last word. Of course it's going to be in Yiddish, but that'snot my problem, is it? Not until I look up at the screen and see it print 'gomisht helfen.' That's when I'll say uncle.
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f
Jewish Press
July 17, 1M7
d ffamcSS ©ft jram(ol®iMi By Randi Epstein
During the week of June 7-13, while many were getting used to the freedom of the summer and having a good time, three Jewish Omaha teens participated in the 475-mile Bike Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN). Each one of these teens had different reasons for par' ticipating in this bike ride. "I did it because my parents told me that I had to i have a structured summer and this sounded fun," Seth : Kotok, a junior at Central • High School, said. "I did it just to ease into the summer and get into shape," said Josh Finkler, a 1987 Westside High School graduate. "I participated in the bike ride just to have fun," PhiJ Bahar, also a 1987 Westside graduate, said. While one may think that getting into shape for this 475-mile ride would be very important, some of the bikers did very little to prepare for the bike ride. "I did not do anything to get me in shape for the ride at all, ' Josh said. However, some did try to condition themselves and get ready for the ride. "I rode my bike with friends and rode my bike to work for about two months. About two weeks before the bike ride, I really started ' training for it. I did not condition myself as much as I should have, and if I do this again next year, I will start ; preparing much more in advance," Seth said. Once BRAN started, the rainy weather and strong winds during the first two days discouraged some •bikers from riding their bikes. "It rained the first two days so I took the van to the next town both days; .it was just not good biking weather," Phil said. "It was cloudy, rainy and windy on Monday and Tues'day; those were the worst two days. On Monday, I took the van because the
winds were too much, but on Tuesday, I rode the 86 miles." Seth said. During the week, the riders stopped in small towns to spend the night. "Most of the towns thought we were great; we tripled the population and daily income in some of the towns. Most of the people in the towns were very nice, but some were mean and, unfortunately, the mean people were more noticeable," Josh said. At night the bikers usually gathered at a common meeting place. Often, as is common in small towns, bars were a gathering place. "At night we would hit the bars, go to movies, and in Ord there was a carnival that we went-to," Phil said. "Once we got into town, there was not much to do. We would usually hang out out in cafes and bars," Seth said. During the course of the bike ride, many of the bikers questioned why they were riding 475 miles across Nebraska. However, the three Omaha teens agreed that they did have a good time. "We always complained while we were riding, but looking back on it, it was a lot of fun," Phil said. "It was a lot of hard work, and at times I wondered why I was doing it, but now, looking back on it, it was worth it. I will probably do it again next year," Seth said. "If anyone is into biking, I would really advise it (BRAN)," he added. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (JTA) - Brothers Label and Sender Botwinik of Cote St. Luc, Quebec, Canada, have won the $1,000 first prize at the Yiddish Folk Song Contest of the Charlotte Yiddish Institute held in Little Switzerland, N.C. Label wrote the lyrics and Sender the music for "Ah Becher Mit Vein" (A Cup of Wine).
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WEIZMANN, MZ JOINT RUSH On Aug. 9, Chaim Weizmann #1510 and MZ Yoshanah 12053 will sponsor their final rush of the season. "FunFest '87" will feature carnival games, raffles, food, prizes, pony rides and more. It will be held behind the Jewish Community Center. Profits from this event will go to benefit Make A Wish of Nebraska Inc. Make A Wish helps terminally ill children make their dreams come true. Weizmann and MZ invite the entire community to join them. MZ YOSHANAH MZ Yoshanah will hold its next rush on July 18. Members and prospective members will meet at the J at 7:30 p.m. and then go to the Dreamy High Slides after which we will have an overnight. There is no charge for rushees; cost to members is $4. For more information and for rides call Trudi Seiner, 333-8800, or Robyn Epstein, 334-7617.
Horse Campers get awards The Jewish Community Center Horse Camp concluded this year with an awards ceremony during an overnight camp-out at Platte River State Park. Trophies and certificates were presented to 'Cowpokes,' 'Buckeroos' and 'Wranglers.' Horsemanship award recipients were: front row, from left, Jessica Christensen, Dusty Nichols, Kiawia Alarid, Jeremy Nichols, David Bagley and Mike Bagley: back row, from left, Brett Honig, Brian Peters, Cory Tichauer, Keegan Davis, Kelli Tichauer, Dana Beavers, Michelle Albano and Shellayne Davis.
Skomal resigns The resignation criUIarty Skomal, Jewish Community Center theater director, has
been announced by Gary Bernstein, JCC assistant director. Mr. Skomal, who has been with the JCC for four-and-ahalf years, has.accepted a position as State Arts Coordinator at the Nebraska Arts Council.
Garden walk The General Crook House Museum , Fort Omaha, 5300 N. 30th street, will conduct a Victorian Garden Walk, Aug. 9, 1-4 p.m. Admission is free. The names and historical background of 1880's flowers, shrubs and ground cover will be offered by tour guides.
CARL JARL LOCKSMITHS
Campers see Royals
7511 Dodge • 393 780O
Pictured from left, Michael Ruback, Kevin Saylan and Andy Ruback hold the Louisville slugger bat given to them by the Omaha Royals during the Jewish Community Center Sports Adventure Camp trip to Rosenblatt Stadium. Twenty boys attended the week-long camping program, watched the Royals batting practice and got autographs from the players.
at the New Deli — 90th & Center
Each one bad to practicS Again and again, when tlie big test came, each athlete vasreadycstrlttogrorhia per8onalt>est.' That^s how 11 Is w Ith irts. And that's bow It la'^ h another form or com- ^ lon-r^staodardlzed do>ourbest,you lid prepare withthe Kaplan. studentaareableto tbe most, year after l^ct Is. Kaplan piepaJiaa helped overone ' identsontothe k,fitlagthan Isandconndence fhish strong. 'ou'riefkcliigtheSAT, QMAT.ORIEI'SAT: MCAt orprofesslonal tesUUketheBarorCm ;am*,callStanleyH.. Krfaip. Tliese ath fetes had liUntdbeattheircomtloii;)MMrb;tlicn^a WltBryou.-.!-!,'-
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Learning Disabilities Resource Teacher needed for synagogue schools, afternoons and Sundays, up to ten hours weekly. Should possess strong Jewish background and degree in Learning Disabilities or SPED. Please send resume to Susan A. Drazen, Bureau of Jewish Education, 333 South 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68154.
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Let's Do Lunch
BINGHAMTON, NY (JTA) - Victoria Rouff has been reelected president of the Jewish- Federation of Broonie County. NEW YORK (JTA) Twenty-five Jewish cadets—23 men and two women—are scheduled to graduate this month from the U.S. Air Force, Military and Naval academies and be commissioned as officers, according to the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
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