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A special bat mitzvah Jy Ann Kibel Schwartz, director of education, Our goals have been to provide Lina with a Jewish education; help strengthen her Jewish idenTempleisrael Reiiffioiu School tity; work with specialists to develop specific curricula to meet her needs and make it accessible to her, and to give Lina and her classmates opportunities to develop mutual understanding and friendship. Lina's three years at Temple Israel Religious School have involved many people, including Lina and her family, the staff of Jewish Family Services, the Bureau of Jewish Education, the Nebraska School for the Deaf, Rabbis Rappaport, Aryeh Azriel and Dan Fink, Cantor Karen Webber-Gilat and the Religious School faculty. It began with a request from Lina's parents, Gregory and Galina Kogan, who wanted her to have a Bat Mitzvah. After an initial home visit, the first priority was to find a sign language interpreter. Lina would be learning along with the rest of us because her knowledge of American sign language Lisa Kogan and interpreter, Sara Walter was limited. "Hear oh Igrael..,"; although she cannot hear She was enrolled at the Nebraska School for the I, Lina Kogan can sign as well as say the Shema. Deaf, where she would learn the basic skills she Vith the help of Rabbi Laura Rappaport, Lina has would need to communicate. leen preparing for her Bat Mitzvah June 11 at Unfortunately, a Jewish person qualified to 11:15 a.m. at Temple Israel. interpret sign language could not be found in Two of her classmates, Nicole Platowicz and Omaha. lachary Johnson, have volunteered to lend a hand We were able to hire Sara Walter, a teacher at ind a voice as Lina signs the prayers. Her parents the Iowa School for the Deaf who lives in Omaha. ind her sign interpreter will have active roles in To help pay for the interpreter, the Religious he celebration. School received an Esther K Newman grant. For three years, Temple Israel, with assistance Also, the Bureau of Jewish Education helped Irom agencies of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, provide this service through its special needs comlas provided Lina a sign language interpreter to mittee. ittend her classes, worship services and, most In addition to the interpreter, we also relied ÂŤcently, Bat Mitzvah tutoring sessions. upon Religious School faculty to adapt the curricuLina arrived in Omaha from the former Soviet lum for Lina. Jnion approximately three-and-a-half years ago Rabbi Rappaport and her husband, Rabbi Fink, vith no previous Jewish education and several lan- will officiate at the Bat Mitzvah. guage barriers. A hearty Mazel Tov She could only lip read a liQnited amount of The community may attend and we wish Lina a lussian. hearty Mazel Tov!
New rabbi at Temple Israel
Rothenberg, Abrait^son win leadership awards
Bunny Rothenberg and Michael Abramson have been named Young Leadership award winners, the Jewish Federation of Omaha has announced. The young leaders, along with other award recipients, will be honored at the Federation's annual meeting, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center. Ms.Rothenberg, winner of the Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Young Leadership award, has been named one of the 10 outstanding young Omahans by the Omaha Jaycees. She was cited for her service to numerous organizations including the Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, National Council of Jewish Women, Beth El Synagogue. Nominated by Jewish Family Service and Beth El Synagogue, Mr. Abramson has been awarded the Justin Greenberg Young Leadership award. He was cited for his consistent demonstration of leadership, organizational, and administrative skills through each committee and organization of which he is a member. Through Jewish Family Service, he showed his concern for the future of Jewish continuity in his planning efforts toward linking of interfaith families with the Jewish community. His service as budget chair of Beth El Synagogue required the communication of "tough" decisions to the Synagogue's board of trustees. His guidance ensured Beth El a balanced budget.
**lsrael Bonds for Israel bound"
By Jo CaiToU New approaches to investment with Israel Rabbi Debbie Stiel Bonds will be the focus of an informational meeting rill join the staff at scheduled for June 16 at 7:15 p.m. in the Jewish 'emple Israel, July 26. A Community Center. lew graduate of Hebrew Alan Parsow, Sandy Epstein and Gary Javitch Jnion College-Jewish are co-chairmen. Anne Broder, Missions chairman nstitute of Religion in for the Jewish Federation of Omaha, will be one of /incinnati, Rabbi Stiel is the speakers. I native of Texas. "Give the Gift of Israel" is the theme of the meetDuring rabbinical ing which is targeting families from grandparents ichool she served as a to grandchildren. tudent rabbi at The Development Corporation for Israel, which Congregation Ohev issues the bonds, has a number of offerings that irael, Newark, Ohio, would net purchasers some extra cash while in Hi. Zion Temple, Sioux 'alls. South Dakota and Temple Mishkan Israel, Israel, Mr. Parsow explained. At the same time, by buying the bonds, an individual would also be helpelma, Alabama. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Rice ing Israel to build up its infrastructure, particularniversity, where she grndunted Magna Cum ly important now that the peace initiatives are iBudc. She served for a year as a hospital chaplain being implemented.. "It's a perfect gifl," explained Mr.Parsow. The f two general surgery floors at Cincinnnti's Jewish bond's interest rate rises 1% per year for up to five lospital and spent a summer as a Chaplain candiyears and yields 8% in its last year. This bond can ate in the United States Navy. In a whirlwind tour of Omaha Rabbi Stiel said be used to pay for EL AI plane tickets or can be he was most impressed with the amount of culture cashed in Israel. Mr.Parsow urged everyone to learn more during nd art the city had to offer. She says Rabbi Azriel the dessert and coffee get-together. The event is I the reason she accepted the position at Temple irael. Rabbi Stiel, who grew up as part of a 2,600 not a solicitation, he said, adding that no purchase lember Temple in Dallas said it wasn't until she is required. *If you or a loved one it planning a trip to Israel, ltd graduated from college and was working ai a now or in the future, Israel Bonds could be juat the igal Msiitant in Houston that the decided to enter ticket!" stated Sandy Epstein. So many Omahans la rabbinate. Rabbi Stiel will be aeeompanied to Omaha by are traveling to Israel now. Thess bonds could be $r husband, Steve Stiel, who haa a •tockbroktr'i cashed in after being held only one year. With tha added interest, tha bonds would be rewarding. cenie and is a 40IK tpecialitt.
Crary Javitch added that there are other ways to help Israel and at the same time earn more on your investments. He spoke about the high-yielding 7% zero coupon bonds that are attractive for saving for college. All these offerings will be touched upon at the meeting. Judge Norman Krivosha is the Nebraska chair for the Israel Bonds 1994 campaign.
Fellman scholarships awarded Howard M. Kooper, a trustee of the Bruce M. Fellman Charitable Foundation Trust, has announced that scholarships have been awarded to the following Omaha-area college students: Andrew Altman, University of Kansas: DereP Altman, Jay Uentoii, Tatyana Demidovich, Melunie Meyers and Jill Ruben, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Paula McCreight, University of Nebraska at Lincoln; Julie Demidovich, Creighton University; Caren Friedman, Washington University; Holly Friedman, University of Kansas; Dina Kogan, Brandeis University, and Regina Lewald, University of Indiana. The Bruce M. Fellman Charitable Foundation Trust was created in memory of Bruce M. Fellman, son of Tom and Darlynn Fellman, after his untimely death while attending George Washington University and participating in the University of Pittsburgh's SemesUr at Sea.
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