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Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
Vol. LXXI No.» Omaha
Award established for exceptional effort By Morris Maline A new award program has been established to recognize those in the Jewish community who put forth exceptional effort to make Omaha "^he best of Jewish communities." The honor, entitled the President's Award, will be distribute;i at the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, and will be given to lay members of the community as well as Federation Agencies and departments. The first presentation wll take place Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center. Agency directors and professionals will be invited to participate. Honorees are as follows: The ADL/CRC and Jewish Cultural Arts Council for the Rescue of the Danish Jews exhibit and program; the Building and Grounds Committee and Mark Sanford for exceptional effort in the installation of the new air conditioning system at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Also, The Foundation, the Jewish Press, David Goldstein, Paul Landow, and George Eisenberg for leading the Mark Epstein fund drive; Marcia Cohen and Zoe Riekes for leading the Women's Division Leadership Mission to Israel; Andi Kavich for leading the Lion of Judah Conference to Washington, D.C., and Jewish Family Service for its adoption conference. Jerry Slusky, Federation president, said he felt that some public recognition should be made of the many good things that happen in the Jewish community. "I would like to invite the community to attend all or part of the Board meeting and applaud the honorees,* Mr. Slusky said.
5 Kislev, 5764, November IB, 1993
Pitlor's to lead Family Mission to Israel By Barbara Chandler Federation Public Relations Director Marcia and Steve Pitlor and their children, Lisa, 14, David, 11 and Kim, 8, enjoy family vacations. Thanksgiving in Arizona, Colorado ski trips, and trips to New York, Canada and Hawaii are all listed by the children as past vacation spots. But this year, they are going on a very different family trip — they are leading a Family Mission to Israel from June 27 to July 6. And even though they are all seasoned travelers, everyone is very excited about this trip. Learning about Israel in Hebrew school, Lisa From left: Marcia, Kim, David, Steve and and David are well-prepared for the trip, and even Lisa Pitlor. Kim, in the third grade, has "learned a little about Israel." They know about some of the key sights find out that he will have a Bar Mitzvah at the that will be part of the mission itinerary — Wall, they say, "I wish I could come with you." Masada, the Dead Sea, the Golan Heights and the Kim added, "I tell my fHends at Hebrew School, Western Wall and Old City in Jerusalem. 'We're going to Israel in the summer. It would be "There are all different kinds of people living fun to have friends my age there. Maybe you could there," noted David, "including Asians, come, too." Yugoslavians and Ethiopians." The Family Mission is part of a national UJA Lisa, who had her Bat Mitzvah last year and is a Family Mission, so the Omaha participants will be frequent Torah reader at Shabbat services, is look- joined by families from all over the country. ing forward to "everything, especially making new Participants must be at least 7 years old, but this is friends!" an intergenerational mission for everyone. Marcia and Steve have been exploring the possi- Whether you're 7, 13, 16, 21, a parent or a grandbilities of a family trip to Israel for three years. parent, this mission is for you. "We've always wanted to go to Israel, but we Everyone in the Pitlor family agrees that this didn't want to leave the children for that long and mission to Israel will be a great experience. this is a great way for us to experience Israel as a Steve concluded, "If you're going to pick a trip to family," Marcia explained. go on this summer, this would be the one." Steve added, "Lisa's Bat Mitzvah last year and There will be Family M\^sion information sesDavid's Bar Mitzvah next year make this trip all sions on Sunday evening, January 23 and Monday the more inviting. They have a fresher knowledge evening, January 24. Space for this mission is limabout Judaism than we do." ited. The children have been encouraging their friends For more information, call the Pitlor's or Jan to come along. David said that when his fi-iends Perelman at the Federation office, 334-8200.
CLAL will close with a look at Israel and our destiny By Barbara Chandler Federation Public Relations Director
focus of the upcoming afternoon session, saying, "Our grown-up relationship with Israel' — that's what happens to American Zionism when the Prime Minister of Israel shakes the hand of Yassir Arafat' ' On Sunday evening, December 5 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., a second session will be held at the home of Max and Mick Sampson. The topic will be 'Designing our destiny.' Hosts are Sally and Jim Zipursky, Bonnie and Steve Levinger and Susie and Mike Norton. Previewing that session, Rabbit Hirschfield said, "There are all kinds of interesting stories floating around. If we get people to tell those stories, then we have a good resource for the future.' A CLAL breakfast will be held on Monday morning, December 6, for Federation agency and Jewish organisational leadership. lite topic will be "^e take care of our own — reexamining the needs.' Mrs. Fried noted that the Sunday souions are open to the community and it ii not necessary to have attended the earlier sessions in order to partidpato in and aiuoy the upcoming discusiioni. The Monday morning seiiion is for those who serve on Federation agency boards and on boards of Jewish organiiations in our community. There is no charge to attend any of the sessions, but rMarvations are neoassary and may be made by calling the Fadaratioo oflloa at 8S4-8200, ext 210. CLAL is being brought to Omaha through the Bttpp«lt of as uoajnMHS donor , the Murray H. and Sharae C, Nawman Foundation, the Herbert Ooldfton Trust and the Jewish Federation of
Sandi Fried, CLAL chairman, announced that Regina Stain will lead the December sessions that will complete Omaha's CLAL program. Ml. Stein, who is working on a doctorate in Jewish history at the Jewish Theological Seminary, taught Bible and Jewish history at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Regina Stein Jeruislem for six yeari. She has taught Jewish history courses at the Jewish Theological Seminary Summer Institute, the Hebrew Union College Graduate School of EduoiUon, and other Jewish communal setlings. Following a year as a Faculty Intsm at CLAL Aindsd by the Wexner Heritage Foundation, Ms, Suin was • Teaching Fellow at CLAL and is currently a CLAL Associate, lltnM CLAL sessions will be held in Deosmber, llie first will be on 8und«y, Deeaaibn' 5 tttm S.-00 to 5:00 p,m. at the hone of Sandy and Paul 'ia HM topic will be'X)ur'grown-up'relatkman^ irith IBTMI.* HOSU an Joya and Stavs Wses, Gloria and Howard Kaslow and Pam and Brucs frtMilander. Rabbi Brad Hlrshflald, who wai tha CLAL scholar (i»r the Novaoibtr Mutau, imeribtA the Onuba.
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Leadership Conference By Jeff Epstein, Omaha delegation chairman Two years ago, I wrote an article for the Jewish Press concerning my experience at the UJA Young Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. It is an event that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Now, two years later, young adults ages 22 to 35, living in the Omaha Jewish community, have that opportunity again. The conference will take place March 20 to 22 at the Washington Hilton. There will be seminars that cover every facet of Jewish life, speakers such as Yitxchak Rabin, and enough night life to provide something for eveiyone, single or married. On Saturday, March 19, thsre is a scheduled tour of the Holocaust Museum, which you won't want to miss, and on Tuesday, March 22, the Nebraska delegation will descend on Capitol Hill to meet our Congressmen and Senators. For more information, call mo at 4S3-9300 (a.m.), 392''il007 (p.m.) or 8»S>Mftl (•vaningi). or Jan Perelman at the Federation office, 334-8300. Space is limited M call one of us today!