SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA Sr Vol. LXVII No. 21 Omaha, Nabr.
17 Shavat, 5751 Friday, Fab. 1, 1991
American Jews asked for emergency cash When the chips are down, Americans chip in for israel By AUu Marcos missile attacks on Israel, NEW YORK (JTA)-In American Jews galvanized timea of crisis for Israel, in support of Israd, holdthe American Jewish com- ing rtinies nationwide, raismimity, its own financial ing cash anew for the emconstraints notwithstand- battled Jewish state and ing, tends to rally behind besieging the Israeli conIsrael with whatever money stdatea with calls offoing it can find, according to everything from nrmalring the results of a new study tape to hdping the army. which, as seen this week, is A whole new round of backed up by real-life money hunting also has events. "Israel is among the begun, with an raoergency stnogeat motivators im $100 million canqiaign for participation ia Jewish State of larad bonds and philantfiropy in times of a move by United Jewish peace, and becomes even Appeal to call in campaign mofe compelling for Amer pledges totaling 1400 milican Jews if they fed that lion. Offidals say they are Israel's security is threat- optimistic about the reened," says Gary Tobin, sulta. diiedor of the Cotoi CenTobin's study, which ter for Modem Jewish brought earlier demoStudies at Brandeis Uni- graphic research on Amerversity, in a recent state- ican Jewish communities ment about his study. together with personal inBut the study found •terviewa and new research that the almoat Tcfkodva tvtmc Jewish le»dirahip
. teofkncy of oldecAxnedcan Jawa to aupport Israel cannot be taken for granted among younger Jews. " Ammg tbeee younger, more Americanized Jews, basic good feelings for Israel are present, but building on these feelings and translating them into financial support for Israel can be a greater challenge," writes Tobin. In the wake of the Gulf war, and even before the three Iraqi-launched Scud
ago* paopla'sanom over particular Isradi governmental pdkias, Inael remains an important part of their lives. According tfl the study, "Israd and American Jewish Philanthropy," which appeared in the "Pdicy and Planning Papers" published by the Cohen Center, those interviewed said Israel made them feel stranger and prouder as Jews.
Beth Israel Synagogue to hear Jewish activist, professor Rabbi Avi Weiss will be the Schdai^in-Reaidence the weekend of February 16,16 and 17 at Beth Israel Synagc^nie. Rabbi Weiss, a Jewish activist, serves as the senior rabbi of Hebrew Institute of Rlverdale. He is also an assistant prof eesor of Judaic Studies at Stem College. Rabbi Weias, a leading figure in tHe Soviet Jewry movement, is the national chairman of the Center of Russian Jewry/SSSJ and the Coalition of Concern. He has traveled exten(Coathwad oa Page 6)
An editorial • By Hewaid Bloom Just two weeks ago, we were still celebrating the massive Soviet aUyah to Israel. Despite the heavy economic burden that this enormous influx imposed on the Jewish state, our community and world Jewry rose to the cause through Operation Exodus and throu^ the regular 1991 UJA^i'ederation Campaign. While immigration continues unabated, American Jews are faced with an issue of even greater, immediacy—Israel is under attack. While we are not yet launching an Israel Emergency Campaign to ndse new funds, these are not nor mal times. Our response must be measured but appropriate to the situation at hand. The current crisis in the Gulf places new and unprecedented strains on the resources already stretched to the limit with the growing pace of Soviet immigration. The ability of the Israeli government to continue to shoulder this encvmous burden of aliyah for housing, medical care, food and other neceadties is clearly je(^iardized by the extraordinary security costs it must now bear. But, Israd has no choices, no options. It must face its difficult responsibilities and so must the American Jewish community. Therefore, we ask you to respond to UJA's $400,000,000 emergency cash drive. We have already sent out to ail our contributors a special cash collectioo letter frwn our Operation Exodus chairman, Tom Fellman, and our president, Jay R. Leraer. This letter has asked each of you to please try to accelerate
SSiKPWvamiAULSlilPrttiaamDiuB andto<»ir.nigiilar 1§91 UJA/Fedention Can^MdgB. Cash is dSssperately needed now as the Jewish Agency is being called upon to assume a greater share of the coata of social service programs which are normally covered by the government. Vital resources are currently being diverted away from crucial human services. Child subsidies for large families have been abolished. Class sizes in Israel's schools have been drastically increased, and the price of food has risen enormously, making it difficult for many to make already tight ends meet. . Israelis are already taking on overwhelming financial haidsh^ reeulting from the war with Iraq. They have been aaked to significantly lower their present standard of living, and Israel's finance minister, Yitzak Modai, reporta that if the war lasts one month, Israel will lose three billion dollars. The Jewish Agency has asked the UJA to transmit as much cash as possible immediately. We can only meet this request with your assistance. Pleaae understand that we are facing an unprecedented situation in larael, and respond to her emergency inmediately. Please send your checks to the Federation today.
CPAR to conduct survey; B & A approves proposal Directors. It was then presented jointly to the Federation'a Budget and AUocations Committee (B&A) The Center for Public by Mr. Slusky and RayAffairs Research of the mond A. aark, CPAR's University of Nebraska at senior community service Omaha (CPAR) has been associate, for approval. chosen by the Planning "After 46 minutes of and Evaluation Commit- careful conaideration by tee (P&E) of the Jewiah the B&A Conunittee, the Fedvation of Omaha to propoaal pasaed unanideaign and implement a moudy," reported Porreat community need* survey Knitter, B&A chairman. for tbs benefit of this antite "There is alw«ya a conOmaha Jewish commu- cern that we may not unnity, announced Jerry derstand what the broad Shiaky, P&E chaiiiMn. spectrum of the commuThe initial proposal for nity is thinking." he azsach a aurvey was intro- pladned. "It waa the genduced by Mr. Shuky at eral feeUng that in ordar to the Deoembar, meeting of t)M:F^d«aUan> Board of (CoRtianed OK P«ge 8) By Joanle Jaeobeon FedtratloB pnbUc relatioaa director
BabU A^ Waiaa
Kailah Weekend schedule Friday, Feb. 1,8 p.m., at Beth lataal Synagogue, "Ruaaian Jewish Immigration to the United States; Paat Legacy and Future Prospacta." aatmiay. Feb. 2,4:30 p.m., at Beth El Synagogue, "Deoodtaii Intarfaith Humor." Babysitting available. Saaday, Feb. 3,10 a.m., at Tangle Israel, "The Future of the American Jew." Babysitting available.
Religious leaders support phone-a-thon By Jill Koshner Behnont FederatioB pnUic relations associate Religious leaders from Omaha's synsgogues have vraced their supp<Mrt of the Jewish Federation's Super Sunday phone-a-tbon this Sunday, and say they encourage the community to unite for the fund-raising effort. Super Sundi^, an allday event which marks the final phase of the 1991 UJA/Federation Campaign, win be held at the Richman Gordman corporate offices, 12100 W. Center Road, and will involve around 60 vdunteers. "Super Sunday is impcH^ tant because it repreeents the conoept of conununity," said Rabbi Paul Drazen of Beth El Syna^gogua,. "This is the time wlUB we reach out to each other, a time wbm everyone shares in the respcmsibility of promoting and enhancing our commvnity." Cantor Leo Fettman of Beth Israel Synagogue said he remembers the 19408 when "the free world wss silent regarding
the needs and the fate of the Jews. Think of all the people who need our hdp now. We cannot be silent." He added that when he hears negative comments about the number of recent fund-raisers which have taken place to aid Jews in other parts of the world, his response is, "You should be thankful that you're here and not there." The bottom line. Cantor Fettman aaid, is that "aa long as you can give, you should. It doesn't have to be a large amount of . money. There's no excuae_ for a Jew to say, 'No, I can't give.' We have to be there for each other." Supporting the campaign is "crucial, especially in the timea we are fadag now," said Rabbi Aryw Azrid <rf Tanqde Israel "We neediQ uqitoJ^^. gethcr and present a ta^ pact system for larad.' This is our homdand and those people are our brothers and sisters. "This Sunday is spedaL We can't be there (in Israd), we can't fight the war, but whatever we can contribute, we must."
Conversations from ttieGuif By Jo Carroll While most of us are glued to the tdevidon watching what might happen in the Gulf Crisis next, some have been talking by phone to family members who are in the Middle East. Judy Brookstein's hus1>and, Sgt. First Class Larry Brookstein, called her last Monday to let her know he waa in a fairly safe place, but coddn't teU her where he was located. His Reserve unit, which was activated the Tueed«y after Thanksgiving, arrived in the Perdan Gulf area two weeks ag6. Sgt. Brookstein has been in ue Reaervea for 18 years. Although Mrs. Brookstein and her twoboya, Jod, a sixth-grader and Mark a junior at Millard North, have sent numerous letters; he haan't racdved any yet. Mrs-BraokatatadaacrilMs bar twfo eons M "the best supporters I haive." Right now SIM apanda a kt of tine "glued to the TV aat trying to abaorb everything I can. I just can't concentrate on reading a
Jndy nawapaper at the moment." Her husband told her that his living conditions were "pretty primitive and the food was not good." Ha indicated his unit waa in a hokUag area and had not been aant to their dsatinationyat Mra.BnakatdBaaklthe worst thing was "the un< certainty of it all and not knowing exactly where heia.''HarWg|aetwanT ia wkat the outooma o( te war will be. Ruth and Merle PotadI have a daoghtar, JuMa, (CoatteeM «i.K«lf 2