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VoLtXXn No.44 Oadha
JNF receives International Award frbm National Arbor Day Foundation
Federation idehtifies five strategic issues
By Barbara Chandler, At the recent National Israel, on watfer manageFederation communications director Arbor Day Foundation ment, co-sponsored by ' annual awards program the Government of Japan in Nebraska City, and the International The Federation's Strategic Planning Committee Governor Ben Nelson told Arid Lands Consortium, has been meeting over the past few months to idenseveral hundred particiof which JNF is a charter tify and discuss the issues that will shape our pants, "Nebraska and JNF member. Jewish Community in the coming years'. As a showed the world that Mr. Shapiro, noting the result of those meetings, five strategic issues have trees are a gift of God, but high regard in which been identified. They are: th^y are made possible by JNF was clearly held by the work of the people.' the National Arbor Day 1. The effective development and utiliRecognizing JNF'S Foundation, remarked, zation of the financial resources of accomplishment in planti"Speakers noted many the Federation and its agencies. ng over 206 million trees times that JNF not only in what was once a barren replicates their purposes 2. The effective development and utiliterrain, the foundation and activities in the zation of the lay and professional represented JNF with its planting of trees, but also sources of the Federation and its International Award for carries on the task of agencies. 'outstanding efforts that nation building, which foster responsible stewardmakes JNF unique 3. Defining the responsibility and reship of the land to benefit among organizations. lationship of the Omaha Jewish "Jews everywhere mankind now and in gen- From left, Milton Shapiro, JN F president; community to Israel and Israel's reeratJons to come." John Rosenow, president. National Arbor should take pride in this sponsibility and relationship to us. In addition to the Day Foundation, and Moshe Rivlin, JNF recognition," he added. 4. Defining intra-communal relationGovernor, Nebraska City The memories of these ships and roles among the FederaMayor Larry Rawlings, USDA Forest Service days will be with me foreyer," Mr. Shapiro concludDeputy Chief (State and Private) Joan Comanor ed. tion and its agepcies. and many foundation board members participated At a meeting of foundation officials and other 5. Defining inter-communal relationin the ceremonies. prize recipients following the award presentation, ships and roles between the FederaRepresenting JNF at the award banquet were Mr. Aschenbrand suggested that a "Bill of Rights tion and Synagogues and other loWorld Chairman Moshe Rivlin; JNF of America for Trees" be drafted. cal and. national Jewish organizaPresident Milton S. Shapiro; Director of "At first, the idea may seem strange," he said, Administration Michael Aschenbrand, and 'but trees are alive and need protection. They need tions. " National Campaign Director Paul Jeser. food, water, air and a secure environment. They Mr. Rivlin noted, "This award, coming from such provide shelter. They give homes to wildlife. They Sub-committees have now completed a review of a renowned American organization, is indicative of cool the earth, and are natural air filters, creating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the recognition JNF is now receiving from govern- oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. threats associated with each of the strategic issues. ment and private agencies around the world." "We take trees for granted, but mankind could Sub-committee chairmen are Joel Alperson, Steve A testament to this recognition is the fact that not live without them, and it is our responsibility to Nogg, Marty Shukert, Margo Riekes and Forrest the U.N. recently convened a m^or conference in care for them because they serve us." Krutter. The full committee will now take the work of many evenings of subcommittee meetings and ^•K , By Jennifer Batog "The state of Illinois is well served by the action move that work out to the community for input. WASHINGTON (JTA) — in a precedent-setting of the Court of Appeals," said David Kahn, presiActions and decisions in response to the strategic case, an Illinois appeals court has ruled that the dent of the American Jewish Congress, which issues will be made in the context of the promotion assisted Metzl in finding an attorney in her case. state cannot close schools on religious holidays. of Jewish commitment and pride to insure growth "We are encouraged by the court's strong adher- and continuity in a vibrant Omaha Jewish commuIn a 2-1 decision, a panel of 7th District Court of Appeals judges declared a state statute that direct- ence to the First Amendment principles that pro- nity. ed schools to close on Good Friday unconstitution- tect us all," Kahn said in a statement. During the past several months, Dr. Marc In deciding to eliminate IlUnois' Good Friday holi- Salisch, Omaha's planning consultant, has met al. The First Amendment does not allow a state to day, the court has said "even if the [religious] pref- with more than 40 community members representmake it easier for adherents of one faith to practice erence is mild, it is still illegal and unconstitution- ing the synagogues, Jewish organizations, agencies, their religion than for adherents of another faith to al," said Marc Stem, co-director of legal affairs at the Foundation and the Federation. practice their religion unless there is a secular jus- AJ Congress. Dr. Salisch will be in Omaha July 10-12 to meet tification for the difference in treatment," according Mrs. B's fame spreads to Israel with the Strategic Planning and Advisory ' to the ruling. Committee members and with Jewish community Schools can continue to voluntarily close for reliprofessionals. gious holidays if a significant number of students "The strategic planning approach is to have an and teachers will be absent. open, flexible process with community-wide participation," explained Dr. Salisch. Some major metropolitan areas, such as New "We are looking at basic questions of vitality and "York and Philadelphia, close for Rosh Hashanah, function in the community. What do we need to do [ the Jewish New Year, for this reason. to strengthen, protect and ensure the same vitality Tlie case, Metzl vs. Leininger, challenged a 1941 j-niK ,'»*r' 'HI UNO of the community in the year 2000 and beyond that state ordinance mandating that schools close on •w yv3B'7.11310 .m-K rporti m •WO'J 101 '^ I'K. ..T01D> .IK*!* ^y .1^: K'.T .V'33 5"3 ^'finfl in *}v -Tav weHojoy today. We have to look at institutions, Good Friday. Until 1989, the entire state shut •HW3 iT.iioi nitm KM .MVK3 nt,)in'y nKivi via nnnx .wjyV .11*3': structures, relationships, people, fund raising and down. y'7 .iniK nv'J I-UT yjo / n^vw iy .if:T T3 '?nj*' .i3'PDDi - -innopo •;: -ni3 A"'iw3 ^^u n'piy.i O'OMM niifl ;w fund spending. Chicago schoolteacher Andrea Metzl sued the M mno'J av ,IPP nisiy KMI ..VOI;; y31 iy V^3 7113 rwiDi K'.I niin3 "Before committing td*this planning process in state through school Superintendent Robert mnK .inoi ,ir'n mtin KM no 3i .yi3P3 niyr .101 ra.TPK'3lVy1K'>rt33 Omaha, we needed the answers to three questions:. Leininger, saying the statute was unconstitutional •irnsBO '13^ Di O'n-y^ •'•iw^ .3i» ^3.11100 irv3 a^nii mm v, JWW T3'> 0*K35 because one religion's holiday was marked by a day o'Kiwy'j .itiKi3 mow KM 3MIK .•\Toi mm KM x'r'n (0 .iy»3 '^m* there a willinffneaa to confront the 'ii'M .10 n»Ti' 'I'K. ,inw O'l'wvw •130 .TO'i-u) •>•* '»3K .101 ro 'IK. [Off. future and the potential for change? •'» ,inM K^O^'K n'33 DIM '>3 .1»1I .mow KM ,'50 n3D Km- m; "Was there a wiUingncM to work at it? m The school tried to show a secular reason for the •^ould this be an open, honest process in riiollday, but the court rejected the argument. An Iiraeli paper published a story recently on Rose Blumkin quoting her an saying that it would be ndicuwhich the conclusions were not predeterJewish groups and legal observers praised the decilou* to retire, and that she doesn't feel older than SO sion banning the state from closing schools as a IIM article was provided by Beth Seldin Dotan who ii mined? I found the answers to all three questions victory for church-state separation. They also said now visiting Omaha from Israel. were 'Vea.'" it set several precedents.
School closing for religious holidays illegal in Illinois
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