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VoLLXXn No. 4* Omlia
Artza seeks teenagers ^ for trip to Israel ^K i ByMorrUMaline An estimated 60 Omaha area teenagers entering the 10th throu^ 12th grade in the fall of 1996 may be eligible for a four-week trip to Israel from July 7,1996, to Aug. 6,1996. The trip will be under the supervision of Artza (To the land), directed by Corey Kirahenbaum, assistant director at the Jewish Community Center. Mr. Kirshenbaum said the Artza committee will open the application process with two parent orientation meetings next October. He added that the fund-raising committee: Sandy Epsteiii, Carol Katzman, and Gary Javitch, has been successful in obtaining a national grant from a donor outside Omaha. The committee felt that by going to sources outside the Omaha community, we might be able to tap into national dollars,' said Anne Broder, Artza *%. Contributors to date were identified, as follows: the Carl Frohm Memorial Foundation, Veitzer Family Philanthropic Fund, Jerry Rosen, Forrest Knitter, Anne and Barry Broder, Nelson and Linda tGordman, Samuel Bronfman Foundatioti; Milton S. and Corinne H. Livingston Foundation, Herbert Goldsten Trust, Abraham Charitable Trust, Henry Monsky Lodge, David and Nancy Friedland, Broadmoor Development, past Artza participants and families, Jewish Federation of Omaha, Henry and Dorothy Riekes Philanthropic Fund, and othm. Cost of the trip will be $1,996, and information may be obtained by calling Mr. Kirshenbaum at i334-6418.
Interfaith service on Sunday ^shares common mourning Hp By Rabbi Ruth Ehrenstein P' H'nai Israel Recoastructionist Congregation [
This Sunday is the 50th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. Because of a curious coincidence of history, it falls on the most significant Jewish day of mourning in the Jewish calendar. This year Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, begins on the evening of Aug. 6 and ends at sundown Aug. 6. This year our two people, the 'Jews and the Japanese, share a common date of mourning. For some Jews, Tisha B' Av, the day which commemorates the fall of both the First and Second Temples and other tragedies of the Jewish people, is er day reserved for mourning of Jewish pain. There are other Jews who will remember Hiroshima in their prayers. However, this year there will be an opportunity to express a sense of solidarity in our mourning. The Interfaith Committee for the 60th Anniversary of Hiroshima Day is planning an interfaith service of commemoration. The event will be held Sunday at St. Cecilia's Cathedral, 701 N. 40th St., 7:30 p.m., and will include the lighting of 60 candles and prayers of remembrance. There will also be prayers recalling the violence in our world ^today and asking that strength be granted us as we confront violence that is around us. The service will include references to Tisha B'Av •nd the connection between the two days of memorial. Temple Israel's Cantor Conttius will chant a fmall portion from Lamentations and Rabbi Stiel and I will be among 16 other Omaha clergy who 9n\\ be presiding at this event. Jewish Family Service U seeking donations of fans for Jewish individuals and families who cannot afTord air-conditioning. For information, call 330-2024.
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House move prompts fear for refugees By Matthew Dorf WASHINGTON (JTA)-A House of Representatives subcommittee has struck a potentially devastating blow to Jewish refugees seeking to come to the United States as well as America's immigration programs in general. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims voted to slash the number of refugees allowed into the United States by about half, cut overall legal immigration by about one-third and end family reunification programs for all relaitives except spouses and minor children. The full committee plans to consider the measure in September after Congress' summer recess. Jewish activists and members of Congress are already working to restore the cuts. "We will do everything we can to ensure these cuts do not become law," said Diana Aviv, director of the Washington office of the Council of Jewish Federations, which has spearheaded the Jewish
First launch of Arrow called "a success" By Naomi Segal JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel has successfully launched the first prototype of the Arrow-2 antimissile missile. Israel Aircraft Industries, the missile's main contractor, said the primary goal of Sunday's test launch was to examine the rocket, the guidance and sensor systems, and the ability to take off from a ground launcher. The launch did not test llie missile's ability to intercept incoming missiles. The Arrow-2 was fired from a mobiio Imiiicher near the center of the country, Israel Television reported. Israel began developing the Arrow missile system in 1988 in conjunction with the United States, which has so far provided more than $460 million in development costs. Israel will be able to defend up to 85 percent of its population from incoming missile attacks once the full complement of Arrow batteries becomes operational, according to Jane's Defense Weekly. The United States has reportedly pressed Israel to make the Arrow-2 operational before the end of the decade. Proponents of the missile system found added weight for their arguments in the wake of the 19§1 Persian Gulf War, when Iraq launched Scud missiles on Israeli cities. Israel's Defense Ministry said in a statement that the two-stage, solid fuel-powered Arrow-2 is a lighter and more advanced version of the problemplagued', single-stage Arrow-1, which already completed testing.
Israel seeks extradition of detained Hamas activist By Naomi Segal JERUSALEM (JTA) — One week after the arrest of a senior Hamas official in New York, Israel has initiated extradition proceedings to bring the man to justice. As a preliminary step, a Jerusalem court issued a warrant for the arrest of Musa Muhammad Abu Manook on Monday. Israel's State Attorney's Office said Israel would seek a temporary detention of Marzook in the United States until a formal application for his extrsditjon is filed. Israel will i sk that Marzook be handed over to Israel to be prosecuted for a number of charges, including conspiracy to murder, Israel Radio reported. Marzook, 44, was arrested July 2^ at New York's Kennedy Airport.
cnmmunitys efforts on immigration reform. Approves reduction The subcommittee approved a measure reducing the number of slots reserved for refugees to 60,000, about half of the current allotment. The Immigration and Naturalization Service currently reserves about 35,000 slots for Jews seeking to come to the United States from the former Soviet Union. Jewish activists fear that a cut in the program would also lead to a cut for refugees from the former Soviet Union. Activists fear that without the refugee program, many Jews from the former Soviet Union would have to wait years to come to the United States or possibly not be able to come at all, especially if the overall number of legal immigrants allowed into the country is reduced. Thie measure approved by the subcommittee would reduce legal immigration from about 830,000 to 585,000.
Jordan moves to end boycott of Israel By Naomi Segal JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Jortlanian Parliament has passed legislation that effectively ends Jordan's participation in the Arab boycott of Israel. The legislation, which legalizes trade and commercial ties with Israel, was approved by Jordan's Senate on Monday by a vote of 30-3. The lower house gave its approval to the measure last week by a vote of 59-20. The legislation permits business transactions with Israel, as wel^as the sale of Jordanian land to Israelis. King Hussein is expected to endorse the legislation this week. The bulk of the opposing votes in the lower house last week came from the fundamentalist Islamic Action party. A spokesman for the party said the legislation would pave the way for "Zignist infiltration" of Jordan and other Arab states. Others who opposed the legislation argued that the Arab League had imposed the boycott of Israel, and thqt it should be the body to decide whether to lift it. The legislation's approval came one year after Israel and Jordan signed the Washington Declaration, ending the state of belligerency between the two countries and paving the way for the two countries' peace treaty, signed last October. Meanwhile, Israel and Jordan have announced a number of steps aimed at easing travel between the two countries.
Cabinet backs $670 million cut By Naomi Segal JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel's Cabinet has agreed to slash some $670 million from the government's $44.3 billion budget for 1996. With the Cabinet's approval, the 1996 budget will go before the Knesset for a final vote in October. The 14-6 decision by government ministers to approve the cuts, reached during a marathon sessjmi during the Cabinet's weekly meeting Sunday, (ffine after Treasury officials warned that it was the only option if the government wanted to deal with the budget deficit while preserving the country's economic growth. Finance Minister Avraham Shohat argued against another option — raising taxes, — a move certain to be unpopular with Israeli voters.
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