'^^ Council oJJewisii FeilenxiUms Award Winning Newspaper
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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920
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\z'^9 HIST3i»IC
15 KIslev, 57S2-Frlday, Nov. 22, 1991
Vol. LXIX No. 12 Omaha, Nebr.
Mort Richards named to receive Endowment Achievement Award By Jill Kushner Beltnont Foundation public relations director Former Omahan Morton A. Richards of Laguna Hills, Calif., has been ^ named the 1991 recipieni of the Ehdowment Achievement Award by the Foundation of the Jewish Fed'. eration of Omaha, according to Foundation chairman Joseph Kirshenbaum, - The award is presented annually to recognize an individual who, through "leadership, vision and' dedication, has been most instrumental in the successful growth of the Foundation's Endowment Fund," Mr. Kirshenbaum said. Mr. Richards is ft founding member of the original Endowment Fund board, of directors, and holds the distinction of having established two of the earliest endowment and philanthropic funds with the Foundation in Omaha, Mr Kirshenbaum said. In addition, Mr. Richards' past involvement in : the Omaha Jewish community includes serving for 30 years on the Jewish Federation board in capacities including secretary, traasurer and vice president; chairing the Philanthropies Inirial Gifts Division, as well as the Israel Bond Drive in 1952, '63. and '77; serviT\g as presi dent of the Zionist Organi zation of America-Omaha Chapter; and as a member of the boards of Beth El Synagogue and the Na tional Conference of Clu-is tians and Jews. He is also a member of B'nai B'rilh
Morton A. Richards and a founder of AZA #100. In 1978, Mr. Richardsreceived the State of Israel 30th Anniversary Award for a lifetime of devoted service to Israel and.his community., "Mort has truly been a leader of note in oiir community," Mr. Kirshenbaum said. "Over the. years; he has given unselfisUy of his lime and talent in helping the Foundation to achieve its objectives, he and his family can take great pride in his numerous acconiplishmiints." During a recent interview, Mr. Richarda said, '1 feel very honored and privileged to be so recognized. 1 believe lh». Foun-
dation is one of the most importai)t comer stones of the Jewish Federation. It is a covenant with our children and with our faith, and it Is an' insurance policy to secure the future of generations to come." He added, "1 may be in California but my heart is in Omaha with my family and friends.' Announpemenl of Mr. Richards' ^ward was made Nov. 20 at the General Assembly of tl)u Council of Jewish I''txlerations in Bal limore. Formal presentation of the. award will be . made on June 14,1992, ut the Jewish Federation of Omaha's annual mtHiting at the Jewish romnmnii'' Center.
Lincolnite endows UNL Judaic Studies scholar Zella Rosenberg, of Lin coin, has made a gift com mitment of $100,000 to us lablish a professorship in Judaic studies at UNI- to honor her laic husband, I H\' •'!>• Un >i •| n Pru: . Ill' Sludie.s will be housed in llVI
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served the community of' Lincoln and enhance<i its development OVIT the years." Mr, Ros. ,iduatwl from ^ity of Nr' of Lawn lied as an alUirnev m Lincoln for nearly 60 years until his death i(i 1985. Ho was
provide ui ...,.wi.. to a faculty membof. selected on the basis of tt'uclung, re,>H!urch iuul acu dentil' pruiiiise. The Rosenborg professorship will be uwardinl on a five yuur ternv to a scholar will leach modern Euriii>.,in liiqtory and Jew A national
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Women create new division for Federation campaign By Jill Kusbaer Belmont Women's Division publicity The Women's Division of the Jewish Federation of Omaha has added a new division lo the UJ A/Federation Campaign, a Young Women's Division for those aged 25 to 35 years, according to Women's Division director, Jan Perelman. . Chairing the division this year are Kimberly Robinson and Cindy Goldberg, who noted that the new division is comprised of 230 women, making it the largest group inth^ campaign^ "We're hoping to reach as many people as possible, to inform them about the workings of the Jewish Federation, and hopefully to get them actively involved," Ms. Goldberg said. "These are the women who someday will lead the campaign, and will instill in their children a sense of responsibility to our Jewish community." The Young Women's Division held its first event on Nov. 5 at the home of Ms. Robinson. Featured speaker that evening was Irene Opdyke, a "Right* eous Gentile" who helped to rescue Jews during the Ilol()caust. Ms. Opdyke relayed her experience of hiding 12 'Jews in the villa of a German major for whom she worked, an act that ifdiscovered, would have led to her own exevulion she said. Speaking to groups
Kimberly Robinson, left, and Cindy Goldberg, right, chairmen of the new Young Women's Division, are pictursd with speaker Irene Opdyke at the group's first event. around th^ country "is not my job—it is my missioni" Ms. Opdyke said. "G-d gave me my freedom, so that is why I travel and speak." She noted that, "You are- the most important partof UJA. It's up to you to raise the new generalion. You will raise your children to know about the Holocaust and will teach , them to be preud tl)^l they are Jewish." . . •.' She also spoke.of the im. portance of supporting Israel. "To this day I 'qi very pro-Israel. If Israel had been a state before the war, there would not have been six million innocent victims."' • She added, "Although I was not born Jewish, in my heart, I am Jewish:" Ms. Robinsbn said the guest, ,speaker "was incredible. She is a rare person who participated in a dahgerouB ai^d overwhielm-
ingly heroic act. We often hear the Jewish perspective about the Holocaust, and it was wonderful and unique to hear- about it from a non-Jewish viewpoint." . Ms. Goldberg, who cohosted the event, called Ms. Opdyke's presentation "tremendous. Her words were powerful and moving, and she showed how important it is .to stand up and be Jewish. 11 was an emationai "'v.' ning;" ^ Following the preacni.i lion, Ms. P*relman said that, "I felt that listening to Irene speak was our continuity with the past and. the future. She brought the past alive for us. She imparted a sense ul purpose to secure the fn ttire of the Jewish rnmni u lyty. . •- . . "You dotai't know where you're going unlcssi yiai know yvheFe you've been '
Rabbi Gordis to spealc at Beth El dedication riie foriiud dedication of lie new Beth El .Syna gogue will take place \)w 8 at 7:30 p.m., Howard and (.iloria Kaslow, dediculion program cluiirmen. have announced
"If marveloii . ijlilful and truly intormayve about the future of the Jewish community," Rabbi Drazen said. "As we .start a new era in our pew synagogue, his insighl.s will offer us a unique pur spective \a\fi our own future."
rhe program, Hanukkat Habayit, will feature Rab hi David M liordis. of Beverly Hilb. Calif., vice prciident of ilic Univer
asexeculu , of the American Jewish committee from 1984I9H7, is the founding ex-
By Jill KuNbner Belmont dedication weekend publicity roordinator
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the building campaign, Mrs. Kaslow said. "Everything done during the evening will hm)k into the theme of Hanuk-' ktth the theme of dedica lion, renewal, religiou-: freedom, and the building of a beautiful sanctuary m celebrate all of thost ' iiigs," she said la addition to Rabbj Urazcn and Cantor Emil Berkovits, others pur licipaung mclude Dr. Ra> inund r. '' (ll'HI. li
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