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Serving Nebraska and Iowa Since 1920
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The 1996 UJA/Federation Campaign By Barbara Chandler, Federation communieationa director Rescuing the imperiled, caring for the vulnerable, and revitalizing Jewish life are the goals of the 1996 UJA/Federation Campaign. Tom Bernstein and Mike Platt, General Campaign Co-chairmen, and Julee Katzman and Bobbi Leibowitz, Women's Campaign Co-ChBirmen have been working with Campaign Divisional leadership for several months preparing to raise the funds to meet those goals in Omaha, in Israel and in 58 countries around the world. The Campaign supports the programs and services of the Federation and its seven beneficiary agencies —the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Press, Jewish Library, Bureau of Jewish Education, Bureau for the Aging and the ADL/CRC. In addition. Campaign funds support social services in Israel and for Jews in need world wide. The Chairmen announced that this year's Campaign includes several special programs including an event on November 8 featuring guest speaker Linda Scherzer which is open to the entire community at no charge. "Ms. Scherzer was the CNN Mideast Correspondent in Israel during the Gulf War and currently, she is Arab Affairs/Territories Correspondent for Israeli Television," noted Mr. Bernstein. *She is a dynamic, fascinating television news personality and her presentation will be entertaining and enlightening. This is a marvelous opportunity for us to get a picture of the Arab situation through the eyes of an international journalist and I encourage everyone in the community to attend.* Discussing his decision to lead the Campaign, Mr. Bernstein added, "When I was asked, with my cousin Mike Platt, to co-chair the Men's Pacesetter Division last year and the General Campaign for this year, I was hesitant to accept. I had worked on the Campaign for many years as a solicitor, but never had a great deal of responsibility. After some thought I decided it was my turn to step up to the plate and do my share. *1 was assured that the staff at the Federation was terrific and would be enormous support with all aspects of planning. This has proven to be quite an understatement. They are outstanding! "Working on the Campaign, learning more about the needs of Israel, our own community and being involved at this level has certainly been rewarding and challenging. We all should give. We all should be caring, concerned, involved and giving Jews in our wonderful community." Mike Platt's leadership role has much to do with his experiences as a Jewish teen growing up in Omaha. It makes me feel good to be devoting time and effort to give something back to the Jewish community of Omaha. As a teen, I spent a great deal of time at the J.C.C, My activities there taught me how to compete and my feeling about the community comes from my youth, and now from my own kids."
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'Bucky' sets record in 50-meter swim
Clockwise, from left, Tom Bematein, Miice Platt, Julee Kattman, Bobbi Leibowits Mr. Platt was instrumental this past year in establishing the Teen Page in the Jewish Press. "It's a great motivator for our teens to be featured in the Press and what a beautiful thing it is for a parent or grandparent to see their children in the news." The Women's Campaign is ce^rating its 50th anniversary this year. As Women's Campaign Cochairman, Bobbi Leibowitz appreciates being part of that longstanding tradition. It malws me feel good to know that I am part of a tradition of helping people," she remarked. *I feel it is my obligation to give back to my community here and abroad. We don't have to wait for an emergency in order to give from our hearta. The needs are ongoing and so we ask on an ongoing basis. Serving as Campaign leadership enables me to meet women in other communities who have feelings, commitments and goals similar to ours." For Julee Katzman, who is also serving as Women's Campaign Co-chairman, the most remarkable aspect of leading the Campaign is "to see the mitzvah unfolding. We ere a communal people and the women in our community bring it all together, extending the mitzvah of tzedakah to connect Israel and the Diaspora. "Through hands-on projects such as collecting toiletries for a battered women's shelter in Israel or Project Warm-Up to collect warm coats for people in the former Soviet Union, we experience the direct mitzvah of giving. Mission participonta m6et olim, the direct recipients of our Campaign gifts, and educational programs with inspiring speakers invigorate us to do more. "Through Women's Campaign, we are working toward more personal relationships between those who have so much to give and the people of tho world who have so much need."
Zithromax needed
The Jewish Federation of Omaha has received a request from the American Jewish Joint DistriBarton (Bucky) Greenberg recently participated bution Committee for donations of Zithromax, a in the Masters National Long Course (60-meter drug which is used to treat an eye disease that can pool) swim meet at Mt. Hood College near lead to blindnew. Portland, Ore. Dr. Rick Hode*, who is working in Ethiopia, He won gold medals in the 60, 100, and 200- alerted the JDC to the need for the drug to treat meter breastatroke events in hit •(• group. the many Ethiopians who hive this eye diseaae. He also eaUblished a new American rseord (40:77 Zithromax, |»roduced by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, •eoondt in the 60-meUr), a record exisUng tinee ocmea in 260 mg. tableta and several hundred are 1984. needed. Mr. Greenberg now bolda four American and two Omaha mamben of the Maimonidet Sodely have [ Woridrworda. befun responding to tho requaat and others may
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Jewish Culturai Arts plans first Class-O-Rama By Gloriann Levy, Jewiah Cultural Arta Council director The High Holiday Season beckons us to renew our comtDitment to Jewish pursuits. Soon, our community will have an opportunity to respark Jewish souls, minds and bodies with a one-evening program entitled "Class-O-Rama.' ' Through this marathon learning session, participants will have the opportunity to choose two topics firom a total of 12 Jewish mini-courses taught by local talent. The topics run the gamut from Hebrew and Yiddish language to Jewish Mysticism, Surfing the Jewish Internet, and Jewish Music and Dance. In addition to the course offerings, participants and instructors will have a chance to shmooze, listen to Jewish music, and eqjoy a dessert buffet According to Eliane Freund, Class-O-Rama committee member. This event, patterned after similar ones offered in Jewish communities throughout the country, provides individuals who might not have the time to devote several weeks to a Jewish Adult Education course, the chance to whet their appetites for Jewish topics. One of the program's main objectives is to motivate participants so that they continue to pursue their Jewish studies on a long-term basis." Steve Riekes, chairman of the College of Jewish Learning, points out that Through this program, the Jewish Cultural Arts Council will be able to expose community members to the wealth of our Jewish heritage. In addition, JCAC will be able to track, based on attendance and evaluation forms, the topics that are of moat interest to participants in order to plan more strategically for future adult education offerings." "Class-O-Rama* will take place Sunday, Oct. 29, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Cost is $5 for adults, and $3 for students and seniors. For information and advance registration, contact Mrs. Levy at 334-6403. This event is made possible through the Jewish Cultural Arts Council with grants from the Mort Richards and the Philip M. and Ethel Klutznik Funds.
Sarah Raful crowned Homecoming Queen Sarah Refill, daughter of Larry and Dinah Raful, was recently crowned Homecoming Queen for Central High School. Miss Raful, a senior, is a member of National Honor Society, the Pom Squad, Deca Club, USY. BBYO, Ediar. She also participated in the USY Pilgrimage "March of the Living;" is n supervisor for the Beth El TSS program; and tutors special needs children in the UTTO program. In addition, she has attended Hani camp for eight years. Miss Raftil will attend college after graduation.
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