dewisb Presr Serving Nebraska aitd Iowa Since 1920
VoL LZXn No. 87 Onwha
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1 Adu- U, 6755, March S, IMS
Being different is special..
Editot'B Note: Th9^ following is from a speech written by Aaron Wolfson, 10. A fifth grade student at Rockbrook Elementary School, he is the son of Sara and Doug Wolfoon. Being difTerent is special. Imagine a world where everything was tho same. It would be pretty boring, right? ' That's why different people should be treated with respect! Handicapped people are among those different people. Some don't talk, walk, read or write as we do. Many of us think that they aren't as smart as we are. Henry David Thoreau said, quote, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." End of quote. This is what that means to me. If you learn at a certain pace and your brother learns at a different pace, let him learn at his pace. Don't force him to learn at ysurs. Who says that his level of learning is any better or worse than yours is. He is distinctly himself These thoughts refer to my own experiences with my younger brother, Avi. He has special needs. He gives me a happy feeling, makes me laugh like a hyena and gives my day a great start with his bright and beaming smile. Here is a picture of him smiling. District 66 has given Avi a technical label, saying he is "mildly mentally handicapped." It means he can receive certain services from the district.
Last of stolen Budapest art recovered in Rumanian capital By Agnes Bohm BUDAPEST (JTA) — The remains of a valuable collection of Jewish art stolen in December 1993 from the Budapest Jewish Museum has been found in Rumania, police here said this week. Rumanian police said 30 Jewish religious art objects — valued at $6 million — are under their control in the Rumanian capital of Bucharest, according to Hungarian radio. Most of the stolen treasure was found and was returned to the Budapest Jewish community last Bummer. The Budapest Jewish Museum was robbed by three people. Two suspects have been arrested. One of the suspects, a Rumanian- bom Israeli, is at large. Hungarian police were joined by Robert Turan, head of the museum, and Gusztav Zoltai, leader of the Hungarian Jewish Community in Bucharest, to examine the newly found works. Israeli police also have been investigating the sase. Sources said the recently found works may have jecn taken from Israel to Bucharest. It will take another month until the objects are returned to Budapest, Hungarian authorities said.
Federation directors approve requests
By Morris Maline The Jewish Federation of Omaha's Board of Directors has approved requests to extend the Soviet resettlement program, install a new telephone system, and to help fund a mission to Israel. All three requests were approved unanimously at the February meeting of the Board Tuesday night at the Jewish Community Center. The Soviet Resettlement program, conducted by Avi Wolfson Aaron Wolfson Jewish Family Service, had asked that its surplus from prior years be retained so that its program To me, this idea of a label creates a picture in could be extended through 1996-97 and paH of my mind of Avi going down a conveyor belt. A 1997-98. machine slaps a label on his head. The Board approved the addition of $47,000 tOt The label reads that this is an Avi and he is prior years' cumulative carry-over of $177,019. handicapped. But it does not tell you that Avi Some $10,000 of this total would be set aside for likes football, loves to gobble down hotdogs and allocation to other agencies for scholarships in finds dinosaurs very interesting. 1996-96. It doesn't tell you who Avi really is! I know In connection with approval for the new telethat this is the case with Avi. I know because I phone system for the Federation, its agencies, the have spent lots of time with him and gotten to Friedel Jewish Academy and the Anti-Defamation know him. League, up to $71,300 was approved, subject to conA person who sees Avi for the first time might tract review by counsel. just go by the label. They could miss out on a nice According to the proposal, the new system would friendship. result in an annual savings of $5,500 for fewer So, in conclusion, let's not judge people because phone lines, $9,200 for reduced mantime, no mainthey seem different on the outside. They are probtenance charges for two years, and an estimated ably the same as you and me on the inside. five per cent efficiency improvement with the addiGetting to know people who are different helps tion of voice mail. you appreciate them, makes you a new firiend, and A request for $18,000 from the Contingency Fund you learn something. was approved to complete financing for the April That's why I feel that being diilerent is special. 20s & 308 Mission to Israel. The Board was advised that 48 members of the community had registered for the trip. Proposed tax law in D.C. In other action, Jerry Slusky, Federation presicould deal blow to B'nai B'rith dent, presented President's Awards to Sherri By Jennifer Batog Green, Judy Josephson, Mary Beth Muskin, Bunny WASHINGTON (JTA) — A District of Rothenberg and Eadie Tsabari for their work on Columbia government proposal to require non- merging the original Preschool and the Child Care profit organizations to pay property taxes Services departments into the Child Development could have devastating financial implications Center. for B'nai B'rith International. B'nai B'rith is believed to be the only non-reliConservatives in Israel gious national Jewish organization that owns propconvert adopted children erty here. By Uriel Masad Proposed by Frank Smith, D.C. councilman, the legislation would cost B'nai B'rith, whose interna- TEL AVIV (JTA) — Twelve children were converttional headquarters is here, an estimated $125,000, ed to Judaism last week by the Masorti movement, said Stanley Berman, director of B'nai B'rith's the Israeli arm of Conservative Judaism. Fiscal Operations. The highly publicized event caused a stir since The move comes as many non-profit organiza- conversions performed in Israel by Conservative tions face shrinking budgets. It also comes as the and Reform rabbis are not recognized by the counDistrict of Columbia is facing its own fiscal crisis, try's Orthodox rabbinic establishment. teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The ceremony took place at Hannaton, a "The need to identify untapped financial Conservative kibbutz in the western Galilee, and resources has made it more crucial to spread the was officiated over by three Masorti movement rabtax burden," Smith said in a statement. bis. "This legislation is a relief on the tax-paying All 12 boys and girls were adopted abroad by residents and businesses of our city." Israeli parents. Reform and Conservative converThe proposed legislation, known as the "Special sions performed abroad are recognized in Israel. Real Property Tax Amendment of 1995" would The adoptive parents initially approached the amend a 1974 law that made non-profit organiza- rabbinic courts here, but were deterred by their, tions exempt from property taxes. strict demands. As a condition of converting theii ei« children, they were asked to become fully obser vant, lead an Orthodox lifestyle and send their chil dren to religious schools. Habbi Daniel The distressed parents turned for help to Pr«a«m«n talks Na'amal, the Labor Party women's organization. •bout Jewish law Na'amat directed them to the Masorti movement, and UTTO studenta which agreed to perform the conversion according at B«thEI to halachah, or traditional Jewish law. Synagogue are All the parents undertook to raise the children in among tfae audience. the traditional spirit of Judaism, and give thfim a Rabbi Preaaman Bar or Bat Mitzvah when they come of age^ served as acholar-inSpokesman Kabbi Khud Bandol said t^mMasorti residence. movement rejects tho Orthodox os'^ftlishment's fJee editorial on narrow notion that only an Orthod-. parent is suitpage 4. able to raiae children and convex. them to Judalam^H
Jewish law
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