October 30, 1992

Page 1

dewish Press Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920

Vol. LXX No. 6 Omaha

3 CHESHVAN. 5753 Fflday. October 30.1992

}2 million Structure:

Federation approves plan for Gordman Educational Center By Morris Maline The Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Acceptance by the Board of Directors was conditional Omaha has voted in favor of building a $2 million dol- on the satisfactory resolution of questions involving lar Dan and Esther Gordman Educational Center on parking, design, and agreements on the part of stakethe Jewish Community campus. holders to guarantee their annual pro-rata shares of At its October meeting Tuesday night, the directors occupancy costs. unanimously approved a new proposal outlined by arMr. Yale said the Federation initially had agreed to chitect Marty Shukert which effectively downsized the pursue the concept of an Educational Center on the original plan to make the' project affordable to the com- grounds that occupancy costs were to be borne by the munity. stakeholders. The original plan, proposed in 1990, called for a Mr. Yale made it known at the meeting that in addi30,000 square foot building and a capital expenditure tion to the pledges for construction, the Federation has of $3 million. a commitment of $100,000 for an endowment to be The new facility of about 19,000 square feet is ap- used for repair and replacement. proximately 10,000 square feet less than the original Building occupants would be the Friedel Jewish design, and is expected to cost $2 million, including fur- Academy, the Federation Library, United Talmud Torah (Beth Israel Synagogue and Beth El nishings, Location of the new structure would be west of the Synagogue), Temple Israel, the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. physical education portion of the JCC building. The $2 million dollar building will have 14,100 Directors were reminded that the Gordman family had pledged $1 million for the Center; the Riekes fam- square feet of assignable space divided as follows: Friedel Jewish Academy, 5,800; Federation Library, ily $500,000 for library facilities, and that some 3,500; Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, 500; UTTO $140,000 has been pledged by additional donors. The balance of $360,000 would be assumed by the office, 250; Bureau of Jewish Education office, 250; and Federation, and according to Donald Yale, president of general classrooms, 3,800. Mr. Shukert said the building responds both to the the Jewish Federation of Omaha, additional private solicitations would be made so as not to conflict with the dollars available and the current needs of the community. He pointed out that flexibihty in the design and annual fundraising campaign. He pointed out however, that the Federation would use of classrooms .offers a degree of expansion "tf the need arises. j^^e responsible for raising the additional funds needed.

Jewish Learning College starts classes Nov. 2 ' The College of Jewish Learning will again host a variety of Jewish adult education classes during the CJL Institute. Monday night classes will -begin on Nov. 2 and meet for six consecutive weeks through Dec. 7. The fee for one or two classes during the Institute is $25, and can be paid at the lOr the first night of

m

First hour classes, 7:30 - 8:20 p.m., include History in Rabbinic Literature, Critical Issues Then and Now with Rabbi Sidney H. Brookes, a look into rabbinic sources in Response literature, and On the Trail of Minor

Jewish Holidays with Rabbi Elliott Marmon, a discussion on the differences of minor and migor Jewish holidays. Second hour class choices are Modern Approaches to the Bible with Professor Richard A. Freund. Dr. Freund will survey different approaches to the study of the Bible. Maimonides: CodiTier, Philosopher, and Scientist with Rabbi Mendel Katzman, will focus upon Maimonides and how his teachings completely changed the way Jewish law Is studied today. There will be a short coffee break between the two class periods.

The original design of a $2.8 milUon facility was suggested following the offer of a million dollar donation from the Gordman family and a study by the Jewish Educational Service of North America. The Federation earlier had postponed the undertaking of the facility in order to meet the community's commitments to Israel for Soviet resettlement. Mr. Yale told the directors that approval of the motion preseiited by Forrest Knitter would set in motion all of the necessary planning to move the project forward. Mr. Shukert indicated that construction might be completed by 1994. . During the discussion, directors were advised that the overall occupancy cost assumption was $4.50 per foot, or $85,000 annually. The initial cost to be paid by the stakeholders was listed as follows: Friedel Jewish Academy, $31,998; UTTO/Temple Classrooms, $25,907; UTTO office, $1,507; Library, $21,111; Bureau of Jewish Education ofTice, $1^890, and the Nebraske Jewish Historical Society, $2,632. The $2 million dollar development budget, also referred to as occupancy alternative three, calls for the Friedel Jewish Academy to occupy 5,800 square feet, including four classrooms, combined art/music room, science room, commons and adminsitrative space. inrO/Temple will maintain seven general purpose classrooms and will share Friedel Jewish Academy's commons and art/music room.

Old-timer tells kids of 24th St.

The CJL also announces two lectures which are free and open to the public as part of the Fall adult education programming. Dennis Prager will speak about "Making a Rational Case for Judaism" on Nov. 5. The Jewish Federation Library will also co-host an evening with Michael Medved, Dec. 15. His topic will be "Jewish Identity: The Way It's Portrayed in FUms "Today." Both of these lectures will begin at 7:30 p.m., in the JCC. , For information, contact Beth Seldin Dotan, cultural arts director, at 334-8200, x272.

Fourth-grade students at United Talmud Torah of Omaha toured th» Nebraska Jewish Historical Society exhibit with 81-year-old Art Grossman, who grewf up on North 24th Street. Pictured around the Magen David that once adorned the Kapulier Synagogue are (fh>m left) Daniel Senfl, Jonatiwn Linn, Naomi Katskee. Tammy Varkony, Art Grossman, Joseph Spiegal, Education Director Stanley Mitchtll, Stephanie Wilson, Joseph Ruback. Jamin Sadofsky and Matthew Lemer.

Ends long silence: By Lalnie Blum-Cogan (JTA» — A new seminary in Skokie, lU. serves a lung-ignored segment of he Jewish population: »deaf. The uui.iinurv will b«

the w< it 'deafkriendly liiiimy for adInced Jewish studies, "" II Meyer, he sami'^ary » public relations ' committee. Among its goals Is training Jewish tHiichMrn whd cMn teach ii' commu-

JttU. Mkyersaid

Seminary teaches deaf Jews

cities have deaf Jews who deserve to... have accassibiUty to their faith on an equal basis with hearing Jews," said Meyer. Skoki*. a Chicago suburb Just west of Evmnston, has a high Jewish population. Under th« direction of Rabbi Douglas Gold hainar, th« s«-<' fers advanced Jewish disciplintM U) deaf Jewish men iind women. G< 1 the fbun

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tloR Bens Sh brsw AsMcialiuu ui Mf

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Draf. "Our pufpoM !• to tducate the J*«()h da«f M

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that they can go out to the various Jewish deaf communities in the co'intry and world and serve as educators in these communities," Goldhamer explained. "Also, it s;*""" **>" ""poittialty fbr to serve as ruucmor!* in

hearing communities." The seminary also welcomes hearing students who want to ttach the .Jewish deaf inary's ItfN rab-

dtws not ofbr an academic dacra* prosrun. Tha UcaHj will include eight kxal rabbis, most of whom are aAUatad with tha Consarvativ* movamant OobUumar himself "">" '>rdainad by Hebrew n Coltaga, tha Raiiinii movattient's seminary. All faculty members will volunteer to teach one morning a weak. Other than Guldhamar, tha rabbia have no special training for taachilng tha daa£

longtime member of Congregation Bcne Shalom. Joining the class later in the year will be two «tudanta tnm Israel and one from Paris. Arrangements were being tnada for houaing in Ion) apartrnmla, dormitory rooms at a local college and the homes of deaf families. Stiidantit are charged tui' tf program, anii <itd Is availahta. "Wa certainly don't want to make tuition .1,, in., r K I MLf

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Prager to speak

Dennis Prager, writer and publisher of the quarterly Journal. Ultiaaat* lasuaa will speak ThorsdMy at 730 p.m. in tha Jewish Community Caotar auditorium. Sponsored, by tha Jewish Cultural Aru Council as its fall speaker, Mr IVagar will talk on Maktaig llM lUtional Caa* for Jadatw A rtakiant '» Angeles. Mr ' r also hosts a weakly radio talk show.

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