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13 Sivan, 6766, May 31,1996
Vol.LXXni No. 37
Reception to honor Gene Brandt By Jean Ann Krupinsky The Bureau for the Aging is hosting a conimu nity reception to say farewell and thank you to retiring executive director GÂŤne Brandt. ' The reception will be held at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Sunday, June 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. Mr. Brandt is retiring in June after 16 years with the agency which administers the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Gene Brandt and the Older Adult Community Service program. Ilene Klein, chair^^n of the recepÂŁion, said, 'As a Bureau of the Aging Board member and from personal experience, I know Gene as a warm, caring, and gentle man. Chairing this reception has been a labor of love." Assisting Mrs. Klein in planning this event are Vicki Sanford, Toby Kagan, Elaine Nachman and Jean Ann Krupinsky. Bob Lepp, president of BFA noted, "Gene has dedicated his life to the care of the elderly. He has made it his priority to insure our residents receive the highest quality of care and quality of life. This has been evidenced by the reputation the Rose Blumkin Home holds in the long-term care community." No reservations for the reception are necessary.
Melissa Katzman, Sarah Raful named Jewish Teen Leaders By Morris Maline Melissa Katzman and Sarah Raful have been week BBYO Israel summer institute. selected as the 1996 Ms. Raful has been a Jewish Teen Leaders. key part of the Beth El They will be honored at Synagogue youth prothe annual meeting of gram from eighth-grade the Jewish Federation of Kadimah to her current Omaha June 12, role as a Torah and 7:30 p.m., at the Jewish ^iddur skills senior Community Center. supervisor. Ms. Katzman was Her hard work was nominated by B'nai credited with an B'rith Youth increase in membership Organization (BBYO), for Beth El's United and Ms. Raful was nomSynagogue Youth chapinated by Beth El Melissa Katzman ter and in the chapter Sarah Rafiil Synagogue. winning the According to AJon Mor, BBYO regional director, International USY Chapter oLthe Year award for Ms. Katzman, 18, has held at least 20 offices and 1994-95. chairmanships in Jewish youth organizations. She also served as-Kinnus 1995 Ruach In addition, she volunteers at the AOL ofBce and Chairman and was instrumental in organizing helps raise money for the Federation by helping 400 USYers to perform at the annual convention out on Super Sunday. in Omaha last November. Her Jewish learning was enhanced by particiAlso taking place at the annual meeting will be pating in the March of the Living program, a two- the election of Federation and Agency officers and week trip to Poland and Israel as well as a four- announcement of key award winners.
See FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE in next week's edition
'Campaign reaches goal, warms hearts' By Pam Monsky, Federation communications director "Thank you to all the volunteers who made this The 1996 UJA/Federation Campaign reached its goal of $2,880,000. More than 400 volunteers year happen." Bobbi Leibowitz, Women's Campaign Co-chairworked on the campaign and more than 80 percent of the community pledged their support. In addi- laan, remarked, "I really ei\joyed working on the tion, there were some special events during the Campaign because we're raising funds for a woncampaign that brought the community together derful cause that I strongly believe in. 'It was great working with such incredible men and illustrated, once again,'that Omaha is a and women. Their support has been unwavering. remarkable Jewish community. During Project Wann-Up, more than 700 coats Thank you to all the bard-working volunteers." Julee Katzman, who also served as Women's were collected and sent to Jews in need in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe; Linda Campaign Co-chairman, added, "Aside from the Scherzer spoke to more than 200 people about the success of raising the dollars, the thing I am most situation in Israel following Prime Mirjst-r Rabin's proud of is that the Women's Campaign has been assassination; Past Women's Division Chairmen able to broaden its scope and gain new leadership. were honored at a celebration of 60 years of This is very exciting. We've been able to enhance Women's Campaign, and the men closed the the feeling of community among the Jewish Campaign with an inspiring intergenerational women of Omaha. The real challenge is to involve as many people event The funds raised for the campaign will be added as possible to represent the many facets of our to interest income from endowment* managed by community. Thank you to all who worked so hard to achieve the Foundation of the Federation. That revenue will be allocated to the Federation and ita benefi- these goals." Paul Epstein and Steve Simon will serve as ciary agencies to support the programs and services of the Federation, the Jewish Community General Campaign Co-chairmen for the 1997 Center, the Bureau of Jewish Education, the UJA/Federation Campaign. Linda Mann and Bureau for the Aging, Jewish Family Service, the Barbara Platt will serve as Women's Campaign Jewish Press, the Jewish Federation Library and Co-chairmen. the ADL/Community Relations Committee. Tom Bernstein, General Campaign Co-chairman, thanked the community for supporting the camBureau paign. "TVe are very happy with this yoar's camof Jewish Education paign. We met and exceeded our goal by 3%. I 'Volunteer of the Year' would like to thank the people who worked so hard The Bureau of Jewish Education has selecton this. ed its financial aid committee as recipient of Thanks to the chairmen who did a tremendous the Volunteer of the Year award. Steve Riekes job. We had great support from all the volunteers and itair at the Federation. Thank you all for a ii chairman. . auccasaftil and fulfilling campaign.* The committee makes scholanhips and loaiu Mike Platt, who also served as General available for Jewish educational programs and Campaign Co-chairman remarked, "^ost of all VA experiences, which might not otherwise be liks to say it was a lot of ftin, eapedaliy working available to many young people in our commuwith my first cousin, Tom Bernstein. We have a nity. terrific Jewish eommunlly in Oauha, and avatyone ratUy pulled through.
Julius Lester to speak on Black-Jewish relations The Anti-Defamation League (ADD will host a lecture by Professor Julius Lester Tuesday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., at the University of NebraskaOmaha Alumni Center. The lecture is entitled "Farrakhan's Challenge to Blacks and Jews." Professor Lester will also be this year's Schlesinger Visiting Professor for Social Justice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His public lecture, entitled "Blacks and Jews, Where are We? Where are We Going?" will be held Wednesday, June 12, 7:30 p.m., in the Great Plains Art Gallery, Love Library, on the UNL City Campus. Both lectures are free and open to the public. Professor Lester, who is both African-American and Jewish, has in recent years emerged as a major voice for conciliation and mutual understanding between African Americans and Jews. IHiesday, June II, 7:30 p.m. University of Nebraska-Omaha Alumni Center Wednesday, June 12, 7:30 pjB. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Great Plains Art Gallery, Love Library Since 1968, Professor Lester has published seven nonfiction books, 14 children's books, one collectios of poetry, and two novels. His books have been honored with the Newberry Honor Medal and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Tliey have been selected as fmalists for the National Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award, and have been cited as "outstanding" and "notable" books by the Ntw York Times and the American Library Association, respectively. In addition to his writing, Professor Lester has recorded two albums of songs, produced and boated a radio program on WBAl-FM in New York Cify for eight yean, and hosted a live television show on WNET in New York for two years. He serves as a lay religious leader of Beth El Synagogue in St Johnsbury, Vermont. The Schleainger Professorship for Social Justice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is made possible by a gift of Elaine and James Wolf of Albion, NE. Co-sponsors of his visit are the Harris Center for Judaic Studies and the Program in AfricanAmerican and African Studies, UNL.