a wmmng-i^ewspape^ 90301Q-00 60 Nedf? HISTORICAL S3C n- 1500 R ST
j]
SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 JJT Vol. LXVI No. 52 Omaha, Nebr.
1 Elul, 5749 Friday, Septambar 1, 1980
Dan and Esther Gordman give one million dollars By Mary Fellman "This community is Planning and ' fortunate," said Jay Evaluation Committee Lemer, committee chairJewish Federation man and vice president of Omaha of the Federation. "Dan A gift of one million and Esther Gordman are dollars to spearhead the genuinely committed to buUding of a Center for excellence in Jewish eduJewish Education on the cation and, through this Jewish Community wonderfully generous Campus has been made gift, have set the finest to the Jewish Federation example of investing in of Omaha by Dan and our children and their future. We were able to Esther Gordman. build an extraordinary Previously, Mr. Gord- facility to care for our man, chairman of the Jewish elderly, and now board of Richman Gord- we have a chance to build man Stores, Inc., made a something extraordinary gift of $20,000 to the for our Jewish youth." Federation to fund a In making their gift, professional needs as- the Gordmans spoke of sesament that focused on their commitment to the Jewish education in Omaha Jewish commuOmaha. nity and to the well-being "This million dollar of its children. "I've been involved in Gordman gift represents an outstanding effort on Jewish education from the part of a long-time the time I was president Omaha family that has of Beth Israel," exbeen involved in leader- plained Mr. Gordman. ship and philanthropic "In fact, the Talmud Toroles for three genera- rah wing was built dur^tions," said Saranne Git- ing my term in office. "I worked with Jewish nick, Federation presikids all along, when my dent. We are very grateful kids were growing up. I to the Gordmans for was an advisor to AZA their understanding, far- # 100 for five years, and I sightedness and gener- led a Beth Israel scout osity in helping us move troop. I've always had a forward to provide the great interest in the finest in a shared educa- Omaha Jewish commutional facility for our nity and I've always Jewish children," she been concerned about its young people. continued. "1 claim my roots are Mrs. Gitnick noted this is only the second in Omaha," said Mr. time in the history of Gordman. "This town DiBcha Jewry that a gilt has been very good to )f thi|p jnagnitude has ^me. I owe it a lot "You see, when 1 was a boen txttde to the Jewish edsrstton. Thfe first was boy, my family first lived I gift of one million dol- on a farm and then ars by Mrs. Rose Blum- moved to a small town in dn anid her family for the upstate New York. We )uilding of what is now were the only Jewish the Rose Blumkin Jewish family and, according to the people who lived ome. ,^ Theneeids assessment there, 'Jew' was the conducted by profes- worst thing I could have ikmal consultants cho- been called. I grew up by Ika Federatkn's with no background or lanniiigand Evahiiation understanding of what it meant to be a Jew—to Committee anatyaed live a Jewish life." afic space nasda Cor preaMr. Gordman has been nt Jewish educational irograms. The study involved in almoet every ook more than six phase of Jewish life in Donths to complete end, Omaha, both as a como eaae the critical space munity leader and a eeds that DOW asiaC for philanthropic. "Today, so many of Eiity aandsa, reeled tS^buOding our kids do^'t fst a good a shared fadlity Jewlah education," he said. "It's a problem. la.
Mala by Jim KrmatM
They don't feel connected. I renoember the days when most Jewish kids in Omaha went to Central High School and the 'J' was right across the street at 20th and Dodge. "We've kwt that feeling of being together. Now, our kida are spread out all over the dty and they go to many different schools. They don't even know each other. "I think this educational center will be a tremendous combiBatioD with the Jewiah Community Canter and iU facilities," said Mr. Gordman. "Our kids will have access to all kinds of Jswiah activity. They'll be able to study togsther and aoeialiM together. "Thsgr'Ubeablatoget to know each other in a complete Jawiab setting. IfU be the place to be." Whan q^aaking of the gift, Mrs. Gordman ad* dad, "It just aaamad like the right tUng to da Our Omaha Jawtoh chikinn daaarva the baat I tUak we bavie to do evarytUng
we can to make sure they get it. Hopefully, this new Center for Jewish Education will make a difference in their Jewish lives." Over the years, Dan and.Esther Gordman have assumed leadership roI«s snd have been generous contributors in both the civic and Jewish communities. Mr. Gordman, a former president of Beth Israel Synagogue , and officer of B'nai B'rith, was a member of the Federation Board of Directors, served as chairman of the Pacesetter Diviaion of the annual Fadaration campaigy and, with his wife, waa a major con-. tributor to the building of the Omaha Jewish Ccminunity Center and the Roes Bhmikin Jewiah Home. He also served aa preei' dent of the Omaha Opera Company when the organization featured Bavarly Sills in ooncart. Mrs. Gordman, danghtar (rf tha late Mr. and Mrs. Sam Richman, haa
been active in the Israel Bonds campaigns. Pioneer Women, Hadassah and the UJ A/Federation campaigns. She also served as Douglas County Civil Defense ChairMembers of the Dan Gordman family include Nelson and Linda Oou^ man, and their children, J. D., Julie and Kip; Jerry and Linda Gordman, and their children. Jeff, Randi and Lisa; Deborah and Tom Platt. and their children. Kaffi and Jason; and Mr. Gordman's nephew, Bob, his wife, Ellen, and thrir children. Jay Gordman, and Andrea and Paul Thomas and thair son, Brandon. "The Gordman donation of >1,000,000 sarvas as our 'go ahead' to raiae additional dollars to cover capital and oparational costs to m«mtjin the Dan and Esther Gordman Cantar for Jewish Education," sxphdaad Mr. Lamar. 'The plan is to conduct a
limited, targeted campaign. Announcement will be made iQ the near future of the committee to raise these funds and of the architect to be selected by the Planning and Evaluation Committee." At present, plans call for the educational center to be located on the southwest side of the Jewish Community Center building with an adjoining entrance. The facility will include the United Talmud Torah of Omaha, the Friedel Jewiah Academy, Bureau of Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, tha Jewiah Federatkai Lflirary and special ChildraB's Library, a Tbachar Resource Center and the High School of Jewish Studies. Discussions are continuing with the boarda and Isariarship of Tanpia laraal ^ the Nabraaka Jewiah Hiatorical Society concerning their participation in tha new, shared educational facility.