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Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
Vol. LXm No. 19 Omaha
; S Shvat, 57SB, January 6,1»M
UJA young leaders to meet in K.C. By Barbara Chandler, F'ederation public relations director "Facing the 2l8t Century: Challenge, Choice, Change" is the theme of the UJA Midwest Young Leadership Conference to be held the weekend of March 31 at the Ritz-Carkon Hotel in Kansas City. The conference for adults ages 25 to 40 is being organized by the UJA Young Leadership Cabinet. Program highlights include a festive Shabbat dinner, time for socializing, and breakout sessions with top speakers from the United States and Israel about important current issues. Rabbi Irwin Kula, who was in Omaha last year to open the first CLAL session, will be the Scholar-inResidence. Rabbi Kula is in his 30's, married with two young children, wears jeans and high-tops, gets occasional haircuts and is a dynamic, provocative speaker. Omahan Joel Alperson, who has just been appointed as campaign and membership chairman of the Young Leadership cabinet remarked, "As many Omahans who have attended the biannual Young Leadership Conference in Washington D.C., know, it is exciting to be part of a large conference with thousands of Jewish people, but one of the things that makes this Midwest Conference so exciting is its intimacy. Although we expect about 200 people to attend, there will be many opportunities to really get to know people and exchange ideas. 'This is a marvelous opportunity to meet people from other midwest cities who are extremely involved in their communities — they hold leadership positions, travel to Israel, make financial cominitments and have a passion to share that is very exciting." Registration for the conference is $199 and includes all meals. Conference hotel rates are available. The registration deadline is March 1. Anyone interested in participating should contact Jan Perelman, Young Leadership director, at the Jewish Federation, 334-8200.
NJHS plans two trips The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is now accepting reservations for trips highlighting the Jewish views of Washington, D.C., and New York City. Chairmen are Margo Riekes and Barb Platt. The visit to Washington, D.C., the second annual tour sponsored by the N.J.H.S., will be Wednesday through Sunday, March 29 to April 2. It will again feature a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Museum. The itinerary includes the Israeli Embassy, the Hutznick Museum, national memorials, the U.S. Capitol, the White House, Kennedy Center ond the Smithsonian. According to Ms. Riekes, "The cost of this trip will be $889 per pei-son, double occupancy, and $1,099 per person, single occupancy. These prices include tiotel, round-trip airfare, breakfast, two dinners and more." Tours to Williamsburg or Mt. Vernon may be arranged at an additional fee. ReMrvations with a non-refundnbln deposit of $200 per person will hold a apnce. The deadline for reservations to Washington is Feb. 15. In June, the NJ.H.S. will sponsor its first tour of "Jewish Now York." It is scheduled for June 25 to 28, Sunday through Wednesday. Some highlights of tJiis trip will be Ellis Island, the Ixiwpr Kast Side, ths Jewish Museum, the Spanish-Portuguese Synsgogue, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and the Broadway musical, 'Sunsat Boulevardt* All group nDtals on this trip will be kosher. For information, pleaos contact the N.J.H.S. (Mt* at 334-8300 axt. 2X7; Ms. Riekes at 333-8498; K4i.Platt at 333-6646; or Dtb Covert, Travel Faire, M7-6367.
Micah Tuttle shows Rabbi Ruth Ehrenstein the mural which children of the religious school made to decorate the Synagogue for B'nai Israel's Tu B* Shvat seder to be held on Friday evening, Jan. 13. See story on page 5
The changing orthodox world By Debra Nussbaum Cohen NEW YORK (JTA) — Frum. Black-hat. Modern. Haredi. Observant. Right-wing. Centrist. UltraOrthodox. Torah-true. Religious. In a world where the choice between a black velvet yarmulke or a white knitted kipah is freighted with political meaning, the names differentiating sub-cultures of Orthodox Jews are loaded with symbolism. The semiotics of being Orthodox have never been more complex. No representative of an Orthodox group likes what they are called in the press. "I am just Orthodox," everyone says. There are times, however, when distinctions have to be made. Finding terms that are free of judgments about a group's religiosity, but sufficiently descriptive to be widely understood, and, at the same time, acceptable to the community being described, is a nearly impossible task. The term "ultra-Orthodox," for example, does not sit well with Agudath Israel of America these days. " 'Ultra' means 'too much,' and sends a message that we don't like, because we're not talking anymore about a far-right movement," said Rabbi Moshe Sherer, president of the organization. "This is a miyor stream in Jewish life." "Haredi" is a term most people seem comfortable with in describing the Agudah constituency. It is a Hebrew word meaning "trembling," as in "trembling in awe of the Almighty."
Sherer does not mind the term "fervently Orthodox," which is used by Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and also describes his movement as "uncompromising." But those terms seem to indicate that everyone else is not fervent, or does compromise — ideas that do not sit well with the Centrist Orthodox. The term "Modern Orthodox" has been used for decades. In the past 10 years, however, the term "Centrist" has begun to replace it, though not everyone is happy about it or even sure what it means. As Orthodox Judaism's most conservative elements have grown in influence, they have succeeded to some extent in undermining the legitimacy of the Modern Orthodox philosophy. That philosophy has long promoted the idea of living as an observant Jew in the larger culture, rather than encouraging segregation from it. But now, some Modern Orthodox Jews have grown uneasy with the term "modem," feeling that it is too, well, modern. And Orthodox Jews of every stripe are growing increasingly suspicious of anything smacking of modernity. Yeshiva University's president, Norman Lamm, says that ho introduced the term "centrist" to Orthodoxy. "I meant it not as a compromise between the Reform and the haredim, as some people think, but in the way that Maimonides speaks of the middle way," he said.
Activists prepare for 'new Washington' By Matthew Dorf WASHINGTON (JTA) — Three months ago, Jewish lobbyists across Washington watched with trepidation as members of the House and Senate cast votes on a procedural motion that ultimately sounded the death knell for school prayer in the last Congress. \ The phone lineslit up in Jewish organizations as jubilant leaders celebrated a year-long quest for victory that only months before seemed a nearimpossible task. Some in the Senate visitor's gallery pumped their fists in celebration, ending what has been widely described as one of the toughest battles ever fought by the Jewish community on the domestic front. That was then. Now that battle, during which 31 senators changed their votes after a concerted lobbying blitz, pales in comparison to what lies ahead for the Jewish community as the nt^w Republican-controlled Congress gears up for action, many activists say. Armed with two months of poit-election plans, strategies and blueprints for apprnnching the 104th Congress and its agenda, mnny Jpwish orgnnicoUons are preparing to flght for mnny of the core issues that bind the Jewish community.
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In addition to the expected battle on school prayer, Jewish organizations are gearing up for other struggles in the early days of this new Congress. Lawmakers, new and old, only begin their work Wednesday (Jan.4), but Republican leaders have vowed to hold marathon sessions in order to deliver meuor legislation in the first lOOdays. Other issues high on both the Republican agenda and the Jewish angst list include a balanced budget amendment, n repeal of the ban on assault weapons and plans to gut welfare assistimre. Welfare reform will most likely emerge n» one of the most arduous tests for tht Jewish community this year, activists say. A move begun last year by the Clinton ndminia*! tration that will most likely be expnnd(>d by tliej new Kepubiican miuority would limit iiid to welfare] recipients. It would also fund reforniH Kurh as , training programs by ending aid to legal immi« grants. To some extent, Jewish ooncem over thaM iwui stems from nnxiety over wliiil impart thtM ^Ulj will have on Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union and elsewhere who turn to when they are unable to find employment.
Fighting for core issues