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Lincoln's Federation to kicl( off Campaign The Jewish Federation of Lincoln will begin its annual campaign on Feb. 16, according to Stuart Goldstein, chairman. Mr. Goldstein will also chair the men's division campaign. Other chairpersons include Karen Caulfleld for the women's division and Pinky Neiden for Super Sunday. The kick off will be at the annual B'nai Jeshurun, Tifereth Israel, Federation Joint Shabbat to be held on that date at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 3219 Sheridan Boulevard, at 8 p.m. B'nai Jeshurun will be dark that evening. ' Chaired by Dr. Michael Eppel and Dr. Vicky Weisz, the service will feature Jonathan S. Kessler, a consultant to many organizations involved in Middle Eastern affairs. Mr. Kessler is a former executive director of the Center for Middle Kaat Peace and Economic Cooperation in Washington, D.C., where he worked to facilitate communication among ..'. ^ parties to the Arab-Israel conflict and to expand the constituency for Middle East peace. Prior to joining the Center, Mr. Kessler Jonathan 8. Kewler served as the development and public afifairs director of the National PAC (NatPAC), the largest proIsrael political action committee in the nation. He also served as leadership development coordinator, political leadership director, and special assistant to the executive director of AIPAC. He was the principal architect of AIPAC's student program, and co-authored The AIPAC College Guide, an in depth analysis of pro-Israel campus activity. He was also the originator of the nation's first "Dinner without Dinner," a benefit which attracted 800 people and raised more than $50,000 for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Soon to follow the official beginning of the campaign will be 'Super Sunday" on Feb. 18. Pinky Neiden will chair the event which promises to include as many as 60 volunteers from the community. Park Place will again furnish facility and equipment. In discussing the telephone effort, Ms. Neiden said, "We are asking that people sit down together and discuss what they might be able to do this year before we call them," Mr. Goldstein added, "Advances of m^or proportion are being made world-wide as well as locally. And this is our chance, those of us living right here in Lincoln, to be part of it all. What could be more challenging or more exciting?*
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Jerusalem 3600 lecture to be held at the JCC Gadi Wexler, Director of Historical Tours Program at Yad Ben Zvi, and specializing in historical and archaeological tours of Jerusalem will be lecturing on "Jerusalem 3000" Sunday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., in the auditorium of the Jewish Community Center. The lecture is free and open to the public GadiWexler Mr. Wexler taught at the Haim Greenbe^g Teachers' College, the Brandeis University Program in Jerusalem and at the School for Overseas Students at the Hebrew University. He has developed courses on "Jerusalem in Modern Literature," 'Jerusalem in the Arts," 'Jerusalem's Many Faces — Sociology of the City's Population," "Christian Denominations in Jerusalem," and 'Jerusalem in the Tenach and in the New Testament." He holds a Masters degree in the Historical Geography of Jerusalem from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. For more information, call Gloriann Levy, Jewish Cultural Arts Council director at 334-6403.
Jewish tradition commands "cherish the earth" By Rabbi Bernard's. Raakas ST. PAUL, Minn. (JTA) — Tu B'Shevat comes at the right time, especially this year. Amid the politically charged atmosphere in Israel and the anxiety of world Jewry, it refocuses our attention on what is central in Jewish life: the care of the soul, the spirit and the soil. Tu B'Shevat is not about borders, but "bokser," or carob, and brooks. It is not about territories, but trees and tractors. It is not about ideology, but the earth. It is about the new year of the trees and their sacredness everywhere, particularly in Israel. The great pilgrimage feasts — Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot — are basically agricultural holidays. The sukkah highlights the foliage and the four fruits, Passover emphasizes spring with the greens on the seder plate and the beginning of the counting of the "omer," or the growing buds, and Shavuot is the festival of the first ripe fruits. The biblical references to agriculture and nature are basic. The opening chapters of the Bible contain the story of the Garden of Eden. The creation of the flora and fauna precedes that of humans. In referring to new land, it is referred to as "a land of wheat, barley, vines, figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey." (Deuteronomy 8:8) Jewish literature is filled with statements using fruit as metaphors and symbols: "As a lily among the thorns" (Song of Songs 2:2), "Those who are just and fair will blossom like a date palm" (Psalms 92:13) and "The roots of a fig tree are soft, but they break through the hard stone." (Taanit 1:3) The Torah itself is called a 'tree of life." Israel in classic Jewish literature is referred to as 'eretz hatzvi,' or the land of the deer. In the Bible and Jewish literature, one finds passage after passage concerning responsibility to care for plants, animals and the environment. Similarly, Rav Hai Qaon noted in the 9th century that Tu B'Shevat is close to the Arab holiday Alagomara Al-thoniye, in which trees moisten and drink. The 13th-century Arab geographer Quzwini in his cosmography states that on the day after the (Continued on pag»A)
Scholarships available The Robert H. & Dorothy G. Kooper Charitable Foundation Trust has announced the availability of scholarships for the 1996-97 academic year. It will be based on financial need for a Jewish student wishing to further post-secondary education. Robert Kooper had a long history of service to the Jewish community. He was elected B'nai B'rith president in 1929; headed Beth El Synagogue in 1941; was president of Highland Country Club in 1951; and was president of the Jewish Federation of Omaha 1958-1960. He died in 1961. Mrs. Kooper was a strong supporter and worked with the Jewish Federation and Beth El Sisterhood. She died in May, 1995. "Awarding a scholarship to a young Jewish person is a very appropriate way of honoring my parents," Howard Kooper noted: He and his wife, Sharon, will fund the Kooper . Charitable Foundation Trust. Tom Fellman will also act as trustee of the Foundation. The Bruce M. Fellman Charitable Foundation Trust also is offering scholarships based on financial need for post-secondary education. Bruce, son of Tom and Darlynn Fellman, was a 1982 graduate of Westside High School. He was active in BBYO and served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of Chalm Weizmann AZA. He attended (jeorge Washington University in Washington, D.C., and was participating in the University of Pittsburgh's Semester at Sea at the time of his death in 1984. Trustees for the Foundation are Darlynn Felhiuin, Terri Schrager, and Howard M. Kooper. Applications for both may be obtained by calling Mr. Kooper's office at 392-1800. The completed form must be received by April 1.
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