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Scherzer tells community 'words can incite'
By Barbara Chandler, Federation communications director Addressing an audi young adults," he commentence of more than 275 ed. 'They asked some good people, Linda Scherzer questions and we were glad shared her experiences to have them participate in as a television journalist this community event." in the Middle East and Ms. Scherzer, who met ' provided insight into the with Rabin on many occaclimate in Israel sursions, spoke about the rounding Yitzhak rhetoric both in Israel and Rabin's assassination. in the United States conMs. Scherzer was the cerning the peace process. guest speaker at the 'Words can inspire, but 1996 UJA/Federation they can also incite. We Campaign Community can't let the voices of fanatiEvent at Highland cism and violence dictate From left: Bobbi Leibowitz, Linda Scherzer, Country Club Nov. 8. change." Tom Bernstein, General Tom Bernstein and Lisa Platt. Speaking about the feelCampaign co-chairman and Bobbi Leibowitz, ings of Israelis in the aftermath of the assassinaWomen's Campaign co-chairman, welcomed guests tion, she noted, Israel has lost its innocence, but and introduced Ms. Scherzer. Lisa Platt chaired the having leaders of more than 80 countries, including dessert reception preceding the program. U.S. Presidents, Secretaries of State and a large Tom Fellman, Federation president, was particu- Congressional delegation as well as leaders of Arab larly pleased to see the large turnout of students nations, gather in Jerusalem for the Israeli Prime and young adults. Among those in attendance were Minister's funeral was proof to the Israelis that students from Temple Israel's Confirmation class they are no longer alone. They are welcome in the and High School program, and UTTO's High School community of nations. That had to provide comfort of Jewish Studies as well as many members of to those who were there. Perspectives, the Federation-sponsored program for MB. Scherzer highlighted some of the accomplishyoung adults. ments of the peace process such as free travel "It was truly wonderful to see all these teens and (Continued on page 6)
CJF restructures annual General Assembly By Cynthia Mann NEW YORK (JTA) — Vexing problems surrounding fund raising, federal budget cuts, Jewish continuity and Israel-Diaspora relations will challenge more than 3,000 lay and professional leaders of Jewish federations and affiliated agencies when they converge on Boston this month for the 64th annual General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations. The gathering, from Nov. 15 to 17, comes as boston's federation celebrates its centennial and unfolds against a backdrop of extraordinary flux, ifiscal constraint and self-examination in North ^America's Jewish communal world. 'In many respects this is a time for real celebration of 100 years of terrific service by the federaition system to people whose lives have been changed as a result," said Martin Kraar, CJF executive vice president, the association of 189 local federations. That calls for "real contemplation about keeping that which works." But it is also a time to anticipate change, he said. "Vie enter the next 100 years with excitement about new paradigms, visions and opportunities to engage our constituencies, donors and [redpientsl of our services." It is also a time to moke 'our organizational cultures more relevant conceptually," Kraar said. Revitalizing the regular annual joint fund-raising campaigns of the United Jewish Appeal and federttions, which have been flat for the past few )«ara, clearly is a top agenda item. Community leaden, Kraar said, must 'reinforce ibe centrality of our annual campaign," which he sailed the linchpin" for community-building. And |hat means *we have to understand the needs of jonors," he said. Raising money more effectively and efTiciently is, n part, what is driving a proposed plan to merge he central Jewish fund-raising structures, includng the CJF, the UJA and the United Israel lal, which funnels money raised by tlte annual to the Jewish Agency for Israel. (Continued on page 10)
Israeli Court rules on Conservative, Reform conversions By Harry Allen JERUSALEM - In a 6-1 decision, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that conversions of individuals to Judaism by Conservative and Reform Movements in Israel must be recognized. This has long been the case with such conver sions performed outside of Israel, but this report edly is a groundbreaking rule with respect to con versions performed locally. The Orthodox rabbinate has reacted by calling an emergency meeting to determine who best to respond to what is considered to be a major breach of Orthodox religious monopoly in Israel. The ruling does not require recognition of Conservative and Reform converts for purposes of marriage and other personal status matters, but the Ministry of Interior must register such con verts as Jews. In other action, the Court required the Air Force to allow women to enter pilot training. Another decision arrogated to the Court the right to overturn laws passed by the Knesset. One should not conclude that the decision on conversions has eliminated discrimination against Conservative and Reform. Yet, in my opinion, this is one more point on the trend line which is slowly being drawn. From the ruling allowing women to serve on local rtligious councils, to the dictate to the government that Ck>n8ervative and Reform religious institutions must be provided with funds, to the opening up of religious instruction in the secular schools by non-Orthodox movements, to the present ruling and to what is expected to be a favor able ruling on Conservative conversions of adopt ed non-Jewish babies, the trend is njoving in an uninterrupted direction. In a week that was so painfully shattered by lawlessness, there also occurred under the process of civilized legal proceedings, miyor changes in Israeli society. (See related story on page 2)
CJL lecture series to feature Dr. J^anCahan The College of Jewish Learning of the Jewish Cultural Arts Council will present Dr. Jean Cahan, professor of philosophy at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Monday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Dr. Cahan will present a lecture on Jewish philosophy ^ and how it relates to Jewish identity. She will address Jewish philosophy after the] Holocaust and how we confront the problem of evil and I the nature of G-d. Dr. Jean Cahan Dr. Cahan was bom in Sydney, Australia, to parents of European origin who were survivors of the Holocaust She; was educated at McGill Univereity in Montreal and received her Ph.D. at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. She has been teaching in the departments of Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln since 1988 and specializes in the philosophy of Spinoza. The lecture is bee and open to the public. For more information, contact Gloriann Levy, Jewish Cultural Arts director, at 334-6403.
Steering committee meets By Barbara Chandler Bw>!e;atlon communications dfarecttnr
Back row, from left: Jon Broder, Steve Levinger, Jenny Meyerson, Kip Gordman, Tom Vann, Super Sunday co-chairman. Front row, from left: Karen Kazor, Scott Meyerson, Trenton Magid, Super Sunday co-chairman, and Lori Rabb, Federation assistant director. Not pictured: Stacie Chesen, Bridget Gordman, Bonnie Levinger, Heidi and Scott Schneiderman, Kim and Jim Simon, and Brian Sift. The Super Sunday steering committee is recruiting volunteers for the Dec. 10 phonathon of the 1996 UJA/Federation Campaign. In addition to the annual phone calls to Super Sunday Division donors. Super Sunday will also be the wrap-up day for Project Warm-Up. Volunteers will make phone calls at Idelman Telemarketing from 9 to 11:30 a.m. or from 5 to 7:30 p.m. to ask donors for their Campaign pledges which help support the programs and services of the Jewish Federation and its seven agendei. Campaign doUan also help support social services in Israel and provide humanitarian assistance in 68 countries around the world. Members of synagogue youth groups and BBYO will be at the Jewish Community Center on Super Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon where they will sort, inventory and pack the coaU, haU, gloves and mitr tens that have been donated by the community for Project Wann-Up. The clothing will be shipped by the U.S. SUte Department in cooperation with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to those in need in the former Soviet Union. To volunteer, call Lori Rabb, Federation assistant director, at 334-6431.