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Historic signing The Jewish Press is pleased to present excerpts from the remarks by President Clinton, King Hussein I, President Hosni Mubarak, Chairman Yasir Arafat, Wme Minister Yitzhak Rabin at the signing ceremony of the Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement; PRESIDENT CLINTON, i^rime Minister Rabin; Chairman Arafat; Your Majesty King Hussein; President Mubarak; Foreign Minister Peres; Mr. Abu Mazin; Prime Ministers Gonzalez, Filali, Bin Shaker; Foreign Minister Kozyrev; our coaponsor of the Middle East peace negotiations; distinguished foreign ministers and members of the Diplomatic Corps; and honored guests: I welcome you to the White House for this milestone on the path to reconciliation. Today we make a great stride toward the fulfillment of a vision toward the day when two peoples divided by genorations, by conflict, are bound now by peace Finally, the time is approaching when there will be safety in Israel's house; when the Palestinian people will write their own destiny; when the clash of arms will be banished from God's Holy Land. (Continued on page 10)
How does Federation support synagogue religious schools? ' By Howard Bloom, Federation executive director Jewish education bavJong been a priority in our community. It is appropriate and desirable for the general community to support Jewish education for its children. The Federation, throu^ the Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE), provides financial support for Temple Religious School, B'nai Israel Religious School, United Talmud Torah of Omaha (U.T.T.O.) — the afternoon Hebrew School for Beth El and Beth Israel Synagogues, and the Friedel Jewish Academy. Through the BJE, the Federation impacts 600 children in our community as it helps the synagogues operate their religious schools and encourage Jewish education of our children in the' following ways: 1. The Community Teacher Program BJE employs 3 teachers — 2 full time and 1 part time — who are available to all the community religious schools. 40% of their salaries and benefits are paid by the Federation and 60% are paid by the schools. Each school pays a share based on the number of hours the teacher is instructing at that school. Through this program, synagogues can adjust their teaching staff to meet their needs, and most importantly, this Federation funded Bureau
of Jewish Education program attracts quality dents from Omaha used their Jewish Experience Jewish educators nationwide who would not other- Grants to attend Jewish summer camps in 1995. The BJE is budgeting for 40 to 45 participants for wise be drawn to our community. . the Summer of 1996. a. Religioua School Subventiona 4. Paaaport to Israel All of the religious schools receive funds directly This community has had a long tradition of profrom the Federation through the BJE. The schools submit forms to the BJE indicating their hours of viding fiinds to send children to Israel and we are instruction in Hebrew and Judaic studies. This now building on that tradition with this new proinformation is put into a formula: hours of instruc- gram. Plans are currently in progress for Passport tion z frequency of instruction z number of stu- to Israel, a Federation/Synagogue/Faraily partnerdents = contact hours. For the 1995-96 academic ship which helps students begin saving in the third year, each school is receiving $1.09 per contact grade for a high school trip to Israel. hour. 5. Special Needs Every child is entitled to a Jewish education to 3. Jewish Experience Grants These are gifts from the Federation in the the best of his or her ability. The Phil and Terri amount of $360.00 to students on the occasion of Schrager Special Needs Program of the BJE helps their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah which they can to make this a reality. The program employs 1 use to attend Jewish summer camps. This pro- part time teacher, an aide and a sign language gram is based on the belief that Jewish camping interpreter. Special needs services are available to experiences help our children expand their Jewish all Bureau affdiated schools including the Jewish education and strengthen their Jewish identities. Community Center Preschool and day camps. The The program was initiated in 1994. The BJE bud- program is underwritten by the Phil and Terri geted for 35 participants, but the response was so Schrager Supporting Foundation which covers 40% great that they had to come back to the Federation of the costs. (Continued on page 4) for additional funding. An unprecedented 39 stu-
Rabin: "Just stick to fundraising" By Lisa Hostein NEW YORK (JTA)-At the same time that Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabiji is trying to convince American Jews that he is on the proper path toward peace, he is also asking them to mind their own buiineu. In a series of meetings with Jewish lead«n and editors from the Jewish media, the prime minister'* main target of wrath over American Jewish involvsfflsnt in the peace process was th«
increasingly vocal segment of those opposed to his policies. But he also sent a message to American Jews in general that their role in the IsraeliDiaspora partnership should center on philanthropy — and more of it. 'As far as the issues of war and peace, it is a matter to be decided by the Israelis alone in a free, democratic system, Rabin said. Lashing out at opponents who have been lobbying Congress on peace-related policies that are at odds with
the Israeli government, Rabin said: "To try to undermine the policy of a democratically elected government, to pressure members of Congress is unprecedented in the relationship between Israel and the great, generous, prosperous Jewish community in the United SUtes.* He stopped short o( repeating a position that he took recently that the continuation of Luke Warren, grandson of former Omahans Marilyn and Marty such activity could threaten the Israeli- WMTCB earorU In Capetown, South AMea, where he reeidee witli hia parenta, Mr. and Mr*. Miteheil Warren. Diaspora ralatioaship.
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