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Serving Nebraska aniTlowa Since 1920 U IhBaai, nes, Jnljr II, IHS
VoLUOn No. 47 OmtJm
Shecky Greene to star at Blumkin Home benefit By Morris Mallne The man who is billed as one of the greatest comics of all time will be in Omaha on Sept. 10 to perform at the Orpheum in a benefit for the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. He is Shecky Greene. To illustrate his popularity, one can point to his recent appearance at the Taj Mahal in Sbeckjr Atlantic City, N.J., where he was on stage for more than two hours attracting a standing ovation and three encores. Not bad for a guy who has been around. And if one can name the hot spots of entertainment from New York to California and fhim north to south, chances are Shecky has been there and has left them laughing, He began his show buainess career about 60 years ago as a social director at a resort near Milwaukee. "We couldn't afford to bring in acts so I'd get up and tell a few jokes, do pratfalls and whatever came to mind. I wasn't Red Skelton, but I got a few laughs," said Shecky in his biography. This was the beginning of a career that rocketed him to the top along with headliners like Joe E. Lewis, Sophie Tucker, Harry Richman, and Ted Lewis. But, just as rockets rise, they also fall. And Shecky experienced problems auch as gambling and drinking. These experiences were comparatively minor compared to his bout with throat cancer. He was told that he would never perform again. Support from family and friends brought him to the point where he underwent successful surgery for a cancer cure. He also gave up his bad habits and decided to do everything to protect, enrich and encourage his talent. Shecky is the recipient of the first Jimmy Durante award for best comedian and the male comedy star designation from South Florida . In addition to his successes on the nightclub circuit, Shecky worked in motion pictures such as Splash for Ron Howard and History of the WorldPart 1 for Mel Brooks. Television game shows found him to be a wholesome guest and Johnny Carson welcomed him as a substitute host on the Tonight Show. Delighted that comedy is strong again, Shecky likes the new breed of comedians, but does not necessarily agree with the language. "Funny is funny...shock is not funny." (Next week, we'll tell you how the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home attracted Shecky.)
Beth Israel teens earn college scholarships
Clemson professor named to Klutznick Chair
By Carol Katzman
By Morris Maline T^ie Jewish Press lias learned that Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, of Clemson University, Clemson, SC, I has been appointed as | Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University. He fills the vacancy created by the departure of Dr. ^Ienachem Mor who Gonsher Palcy SalUnian Recent graduates Josh Gonsher, Nikki Paley and returned to Israel to . _, Evan Saltxman recently received scholarships to serve as chairman of the , Department of Jewish Leo«i«rt Gre*nn»ooii pursue their studies in Israel this fall. The Beth Israel Scholarship Fund awarded a History at Haifa University. The Rev. Michael Protera, dean of the College of stipend to Josh Gonsher to attend Reishit Yerushalayim Yeahiva in Jerusalem as a college Arts and Sciences and professor of theology at freshman and Yeshiva University in New York Creighton, referred to Or. Greenspoon as an expert in the Septuagint, and as one who spends time on City the following year. "When I finish college, I will fulfill'my dream of the Book of Joshua. As something of an avocation, Dr. Greenspoon teaching," said Josh, "and in introduce Judaism to studies the biblical wisdom and imagery that others." He is cturently finishing a term as president of appear in newspaper comic stripe. As Chairholder, Sr. NCSY and has been active as a synagogue "vol- he will offer courses at the Jewish Community unteer in the Super Shabbos program. He has also Center and, in both the Departments of worked at a local electronics retail store for several Classics/Modern Language and Theology at years and will be a senior counselor and kitchen Creighton. . Although he assumes his new position in the assistant at Camp JCC this session. The Sidney Epstein Scholarship Fund awarded Fall, 1995, at the time of the 8th annual Klutznick Symposium, he will become a resident of Omaha in stipends to both Nikki Paley and Evan Saitzman. The ftind was founded by Gertrude Epstein in Spring, 1996. Rev. Pretora said Dr. Greenspoon is one of the memory of her late husband, and is awarded annufew Jewish scholars closely involved in the study of ally to two students for post-secondary studies. Nikki will be a freshman at Michelet Esther in the Septuagint. He is following the lead of Harry Jerusalem and then continue her studies at Stern M. Orlinsky, who was his informal mentor, and he College in New York. She is a past national vice- also is something of a 'spiritual' descendant of Max L. Margolis, whose biography Greenspoon wrote. president of NCSY. "I will be learning the history of my people," she Rev. Pretora added. Steven Riekes, chairman of the CoUegis of Jewish said. "The growing I will be doing will affect my Learning at the JCC, said he was pleased with the future by affecting my present life," she added. Evan Saitzman will attend Shaari Yerushalayim selection of Dr. Greenspoon and pointed out that Yeshiva in Jerusalem and then Yeshiva University the Omaha Jewish community will have an an in New York. While a student at the Margolin opportunity to meet him during the Klutznick Hebrew Academy in Memphis, he volunteered with Symposium on Sept. 17. Dr. Greenspoon is a graduate of the University of the Special Olympics and was a paid assistant for Richmond and Harvard University. He has been at the synagogue's Shabbos youth program. "During high school, 1 have been working odd Clemson since 1976. His wife's name is Eliska (usually known as jobs and my mother took an extra job to help pay for tuition," said Evan. "My parents understand Ellie), and she was born in Bohemia, north of what kind of education I want and support my Prague. She lived in Israel as a child and met her choice in furthering my Jewish education after husband in Richmond. She is an artist-photograhigh school." He is currently employed at a local pher and instructor. The couple has two daughters: Gallit, a sophotelemarketing firm. The scholarships were based on essays written more at Boston University, mtuoring in communiby the applicants. ' cations with an interest in documentary film-makApplications for the 1996-97 scholarships will be ing, and Talya, 13, who will become a Bat Mitzvah over Labor Day weekend. available in January at Beth Israel Synagogue.
'Surfing' the Internet provides view of Portland, Oregon, Jewish Federation By Morris Maline With the availability of the Internet, information on Jewish communities is becoming widely available. I recently come upon the home page of the Jewish Federation in Portland, Oregon, and was intrigued over the information made available to anyone with access - and at last count that number it in the multi-millions. So that the reader doesn't have to power-up, Fm going to share a condensed version of what I found: The Jewish Federation of PortUnd
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Jewish voices are heard. MISSION STATEMENT Communicate actively with uur own and other The mission of tlic Jewish Federnlion of Portland is to assure the building and strengthening of the communities about our activities and concerns. Cooperate with other Jewish agencies and conJewish community locally, nationally, overseas and gregations to insure a high level of community in Israel, in accordance with Jewish values. To achieve its mission, the Jewish Federation will involvement Coordinate local Jewish social services, and coordo the following: Identify STRATEGIC conununity needs and pri- dinate Portland Jewish community services with services of the national and international Jewish orities Develop efrective resources: human, financial and communities, as well ss with the servioes of other Jewish communities. programmatic. Advocate efTorts to meet Jewish needs at booM ALLOCATIONS-Raise and allocate funds, support agenciei, organiiations and individuals in and abroad, and activitiM which nflect Jewish rat activities which actualize Jewish values. Listen to the broad spectrum of opinions from (eoatlnustd OB page 4) throughout our community to tssuro that a|l