ilewlsh Press
A H - R 7 SORT, Ne Hist. Societ.y
Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
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VoLUOI No. 43 Omaha
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Mission attracting interest MISSION' all over town By Barbara Chandler, Federation public relations director "We asked for it and we got it!" Harriet and of the community to come together and that is Jerry Slusky, chairmen of the Shalom Mission, exactly what is happening with this mission." Omaha's 1994 community mission to Israel, are "We selected Shalom as the name for this misdelighted with the enthusiastic community sion because we will be in Israel while the peace response. process is developing," Mrs. Slusky continued. "We wanted a unique and varied itinerary for "We will talk with Israelis about what peace this mission and we wanted to attract participants really means for them and we will see firsthand from all aspects of our Jewish community," the history that made this land so precious to so explained Mrs. Slusky. many people. "With the help of the UJA Missions Department, "For those who have already sent in applications, we have a wonderful itinerary that starts in Eilat we can't wait to share this marvelous experience and extends to all of Israel's borders. As a result, with you, and for those still deciding — come with the mission is attracting people of all ages repre- us!" senting a broad cross-section of our Jewish commuAn insert with itinerary highlights of the Shalom nity, which will make the experience that much Mission is included in this week's Jewish Press. more meaningful for everyone." Cost for the mission is $1,350 for first-time parMr. Slusky, who is president of the Jewish ticipants with a $750 minimum gift to the 1995 Federation, added, "Jewish continuity is a major UJA/Federation Campaign. focus for our community. The Federation, its family Space for the mission is limited and applications .of agencies, the synagogues and local Jewish orga- are due by July 31. nizations are all working toward programming and For more information, contact the Federation services to promote continuity. office at 334-8200, ext. 210. "Vfe know that Jewish continuity needs all parts
B'nai Israel hires resident rabbi July 15, Rabbi Ruth Ehrenstein arrived to become the resident Rabbi of B'nai Israel, as the area's only Reconstructionist congregation expands to serve the entire OmahaCouncil Bluffs Jewish community. A graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia, Rabbi Ehrenstein is a native of ibl Qurenstein Maryland. Reflecting on her rabbinic training. Rabbi Ehrenstein stated, "One of the best aspects of the RRC is that it is training rabbis to serve the contemporary American Jewish community, so we explore issues which relate to people's everyday lives, such as intermarriage, and finding a meaningful spiritual path in today's world. I hope to share what I have learned with the larger community." 'Helping the community' seems to be a major theme in Rabbi Ehrenstein's life. After receiving her B.A. in Sociology at Oberlin, she worked as a community organizer with ACORN, a grass-roots social action agency. She explained, "Part of being a Jew is making the world a bettor place. The world we have now is not the world as we want it to be, and we can afTect that change. "I feel that part of my job is to help people set K0«1» of Tikkun Olam, of making the world a better place, that they can attain." The hiring of Rabbi Ehrenstein represents a number of 'firsts' for our community: She is the first resident Reconstructionist rabbi in the history of the gnmUr Omaha Jewish community; she is •lie the first woman rabbi to occupy a senior congresational position, and finally, she is the first resident rabbi of the B'nai Israel Congregation in over 26 years. "We are tremendously excited about the many contributions Rabbi Ehrenstein will bring to the
entire community," said Marti Nerenstone, President. After several visits, including a recent opportunity to meet her future rabbinic colleagues and other key members of the Jewish community, she already feels at home in Nebraska. She has been very impressed with the warm welcome she has received from everyone she has met. Members of B'nai Israel will welcome her officially at a special Friday evening service on Aug. 5, 7:30 p.m., in the main sanctuary at 618 Mynster St. in Council Bluffs. A special Oneg in her honor will follow services, and the entire Jewish community is invited to attend.
100th for Esther Belmont The 100th birthday of Esther Belmont will be celebrated July 23 at a ZM p.m. t«a in the ROM Blumkin Jewish Home iponiored by her family. A former resident of Omaha, she returned to establish residence at the Honte after 40 years in San Fraaoiaco.
Soldiers take a break at an IDF base. Peace and security issues will be a focus of the Shalom Mission.
Ontario court rules against non-Catholic funding By Gil Kezwer TORONTO (JTA) — In a ruling that has m^or significance for minority religious groups in Ontario, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled last week that the provincial government does not have to extend funding to non-Roman Catholic parochial schools. The unanimous decision by Chief Justice Charles Dubin and four other justices rejected an appeal brought by five Jewish mothers with children in some of Ontario's 25 Jewish day schools. They had argued that the province's policy of funding only Catholic schools contravened Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "The Education Act does not draw any distinction based on religion, nor does it impose obligations or deny benefits based on religion," wrote Dubin, who is himself Jewish. The judges also ruled that the province is legally entitled not to provide health-support services for special-needs children in private schools. At a four-day hearing in September 1993, lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that the government policy amounted to discrimination based on religion. In 1992, an Ontario court ruled that the funding policy infringed upon the parents' constitutional rights but was a reasonable limit in a free and democratic society. Tuition at Jewish schools here ranges from approximately $4,300 for primary grades to about $7,200 for high school. Catholic schools arc free. Provincial government funding for the separate Catholic school system — which has both Catholic and secular studies in the curriculum — dates back to the British North America Act of 1867, which guaranteed the status of religious minoriliei in Ontario and Quebec. At that time, before the era of mats immigration. Catholics were the only significant minority in Canada. in subsequent decades, Canada became a multiethnic society. Aside from Ontario, virtually every province and territory provides some form of funding for parochial schools.
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