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Vol. LXIV No. 47 Omaha, Nabr.
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 26 Av, 5747 Friday, Aug. 21, 1987
Nearly 200 members of the Jewish community honored Leonard and Phyllie Friedel at a dinner Sunday night at the Red Lion Inn. The Friedels have donated $500,000 to set up an endowment for the Jewish Day School and the fiinner program included the unvdling of the new sign and announcement of the new name—the Friedel Jewish Academy. From left, Howard Kaslow, past president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, presents the
Jewish Press printing plate (first announcement of the gift* to Jody Goldstein, lUrector of the school, for permanent placement in the institution. Cece Zorinsky in center photo commends the Friedels and together they unveiled the new sign. At right, Osui* Nogg, master ol ceremonies, encourages Mr. Friedel to respond.
Day School has new name— Friedel Jewish Academy By Morris Maline It's now official. The Jewish Day School of Omaha is now the Friedel Jewish Academy. Nearly 200 friends of Jewish education attended the dedication dinner Sunday night at the Red Lion Inn tuid took pleasure in ^a review of the past and the prospects for the future. With a $500,000 endowment provided by I Leonard and Phyllis Friedel, the new educaI tional institution plans to start its academic Y year with some 40 students in a kindergarI ten through sixth grade format. "We are ' preparing to produce the leaders of the Jewh ish community for the next generation," [ said Forrest Knitter, co-chairman of the \ school's board of directors. I In his keynote address, Judge Norman Y Krivosha said it was most appropriate to \ use the term dedication when speaking of \ setting aside a building for Jewish educaStion. "We are doing more than changing the name of a building—we are indeed perform^ ing an act to set aside this structure for a sacred and solemn purpose." He said that in Judaism, knowledge and ; education is more than satisfying curiosity, it is a religious act; it is a sacred or solemn purpose and education of children the most i.sacred and solemn purpose.
Judge Krivosha said that the dedicatipn of the institution alone is insufficient and that people also must be dedicated for the purpose of education. He said there is need for greater community support and that recognition should be given to the fact that those educated in a parochial school as committed, knowledgeable Jews can achieve in the secular world. "Leonard and Phyllis Friedel have indeed found meaning of a Jewish life," Judge Krivosha said, adding that by their act of generosity toward Jewish education, they have exhibited deep religious feeUngs. Mr. Friedel said that he and his wife made the gift for both emotional and intellectual reasons. He recalled that as a nine- or 10year-old in Omaha, he attended a chedar (religious school) above a drug store at 49th and Dodge. "I didn't like it, and I pleaded with my father to take me out... I was Judah Wolfson's first dropout." He countered that experience with a recent trip to the Day School when he and his wife shared the joy and excitement of seeing Jewish children enjoy the educational process with the latest in equipment and modem instructional methods. As master of ceremonies, Ozzie Nogg told the story of being approached as a young mother to have her children attend the Day
School. She said she turned down the opportunity. Now, her daughter is seeking a Day School in the Boston area for future use, and Mrs. Nogg pointed out that "In our children, God gives us the opportunity to rectify our mistakes." Richard Fellman, first president of the Jewish Day School, said there actually were two schools, one in the old Jewish Community Center where Paul Veret found space and the second at the current location of 126th and Pacific spurred by Dr. Irving Shapiro "and his bingo games." He Said about 30 students were in the school in the early 1960s, at the time that the facility closed and was taken over by Beth Israel Synagogue. In the late 1960s, Mr. Fellman said a variety of actions energized the school and that these actions included support from the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Livingston Foundation and bingo scholarship grants. Now, he pointed out, major money problems are a thing of the past. The Friedels have provided one of the single largest gifts ever given to a Jewish Day School in the United States. Mr. Fellman urged parents to respond with the one gift that goes beyond the gift of money. "We need the commitment of children," he explained.
Speaking for the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Howard Kaslow described the day school enterprise as a partnership among schoftl staff and volunteers, the Federation, the Federation Foundation, and the Friedels "who have demonstrated creative philanthropy." ' Steven Riekes, a board memb^ ijf the Federation Foundation, said the endowment for the Friedel Jewish Academy is an example that he hopes will spread to all Jewish institutions. There are many needs in the community and endowments are absolutely necessary for economic survival, he added. • Cece Zorinsky helped the Friedels unveil the new sign which will be placed on the school building, and presented the couple with a sculpture fr^.the ecJiDol. Mr. Kaslow 'Resented to scnS^t administrator Jody Goldstein the Jewish Press printing plate which carried the major announcement of the Friedel gift. The metal plate will be housed in the school. Others participating in the dedication dinner were Rabbi Isaac Nadoff, Cantor Harold Firestone, Cantor Emil Berkovits, and Eunice Denenberg. Letters of congratulations from Rabbi Paul Drazen, Congressman Hal Daub, and Rabbi Stephan Barack were read by Mrs. Nogg.
Lincoln's Tifereth Israel plans'Siyum HaTorah weekend By Morris Maline the youngsters have been studying the past year for this special event. What does a Jewish congregation do On Saturday, a special Shabbat service when it helps its members fulfill the 613th commandment—that of writing a scroll of will take place and Eric Ray, PhD., a scribe the Torah with one's own hand or to cause and calligrapher from New York who has repaired the Toraihs will speak. tOne to be written? On Sunday, the two Torahs will be rolled Lincohi's Tifereth Israel Congregation out in the social hall and individuals will be iplans a celebration weekend, Sept. 11-13, to given the opportunity to write under the rededicate two Toraha and to give everyone scribe's direction a single letter, word, verse. 'the opportunity to actually participate in According to Mr. Alien, the need for Tothe writing of a Sefer Torah. rah repair came about a year ago when waThere will be a special service on Friday ter seeped &om a leaking roof emd damaged iiight during which the children of the con- the two scrolls. He said now that the scrolls gregation will participate. According to have been repaired, the congregation will iHarry Allen, chau-man, Siyum Committee, celebrate with the special weekend and at
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Susan Fellman reports on visit to Germany
iEditor's note: "ISusan Fellman, a senior at Brandeis itlniversity, recently visited Berlin on a youth bridge program sponsored by the Berlin Parliament in celebration of the ;city's 750th anniversary. This is her report. By Susan Fellman Berlin. Former capitol city of Germany, now an ultra-modern, fast-paced, free bastion in the midst of Communist Eastern Germahy. The New Germany. A country where business is efficient, streets are clean, people are happy, and the Holocaust is forgotten. ; The program that I was on was a wonderbUy extravagant, catered, whirlwind brush with VIPs, heads of state, and the good life mm!hvii>si!ajgii:ii
of Berlin. Arranged by Herr Alexander Longolius, Berlin's representative to the German Bundestag in Bonn, our program was for 250 American youth between the ages of 18 and 25 to see Berlin in its anniversary year. The program was not widely advertised, for fear of being inundated with thousands of applications for too few openings, and was attended by youth from all over the country. Two representatives from each state were invited, as well as representatives from several small special interest groups. I was part of the group of 25 representing B'nai B'rith Anti Defamation League. (Continued on Page 7)
the same time give everyone an opportunity tion, each will receive a certificate attesting to fulfill the 613th commandment. to the fact that the individual has written This is a "most wonderful" event in the a portion of the Torah. Dr. Ray will supercollective life of the congregation, Mr. Al- vise and direct the individual's participalen said, adding that it not only is a rare op- tion. portunity to fulfill a mitzvah (the writing The final part of the Sunday activity will of a Torah), but also to make a lasting con- take place in the Sanctuary where Dr. Ray tribution to the future of the congregation. will put the final touches on the Torahs. He said that contributions given to the This phase of the ceremony will take place Siyum will be kept in a permanent endow- under a chupah (marriage canopy). A ment by the Tifereth Israel Foundation, and procession to replace the Torah scrolls in the income will be available in perpetuity the ark will follow the completion. Among to ensure the operation of the Synagogue. those planning the celebration weekend aK At the Sunday activity, those participat- Rabbi Ian and Suri Jacknis, Nancy Coren. ing will write with a quill pen and utilize a Everett Evnen, president, Tifereth Israel special ink. Mr. Allen said the participants Foundation,and Eve Hoffman, president. will be allowed to keep the pei^ and in addi- Tifereth Israel Synagogue.
Hal Seiner heads region Hal Seiner was elected to a two-year term as president of the Midwest Region of the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods (NFTB) at its annual convention m Wichita, Kans., recently. Midwest Region includes Temple Brotherhoods from Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Mr. Seiner, past president of Omaha Temple Israel Brotherhood and immediate past secretary of NFTB Midwest Region, will also serve as a member of the board of the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. He is also a member of the bbard of .trustees of Temple Israel. Also attending the convention were Mel Epstein, executive vice president of "Temple Israel's board of trustees, and Normand Roffman, board member.
Rabbi Kushner speaks Sept. 17 Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life is the title of the talk to be given by author Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, Sept. l?>at 7:30 p.m. in Beth El Synagogue. The talk, geared to lay people as well as professionals, will be followed by a reception in the Beth El social hall and Rabbi Kushner will sign copies of his books which will be available for sale, the announcemeht stated. Tickets are $5, $2.50 for senior citizens and students and $10 is suggested for patrons. Checks should be directed to Beth El Synagogue, 49th and Farnam, Omaha. NE 68132. For information, call 553-3221.