-1
' - • . : I
dewish Presf
j:9lebratfng Uom Than 75 Years of Service
Vol. Lxzni No. ss
20 Sivan, 5756, June 7,1896
New grants seek to strengthen youngsters'Jewish identity By Claudia Sherman Foundation public rclationa director Following its guidelines to fund projects to enhance the Jewish identity of youth in our community, the Esther K. Newman/Carolyn Kully Newman Committee voted to award grants to six programs which will provide Jewish programming for preschoolers through teenagers. The committee met in April to consider several requests for funds and awarded grants to the following programs: The L'Chaim Locomotive, submitted by the Child Development Center, will promote self-expression through hands-on art prcgects paving the pathway to future learning. For example, three to fiveyear-olds will be encouraged to learn about the Tower of Babel through language and sandpaper activities and will use ceramic tile to learn about the 12 Tribes of Israel. Painting and decoupage projects will stimulate awareness of Noah's Ark. Paper mache creations will cover Jonah and the Whale, and the Ten Commandments will be explored when the children make their own clay stone tablets. The National Council of Synagogue Youth has been awarded a grant for Partners in Torah, a program that involves parents and children studying Jewish texts together one hour a week for eight weeks. Open to the entire Jewish community. Partners in Torah will provide an educational opportunity for families to be together and to encourage them to continue to pursue learning opportunities. To provide the same convention/Shabbaton experiences in which other Jewish children participate, the YACHAD Shabboa Prograna has received funds to enrich the Jewish identity of special needs children. In addition to immersing them in an intensive Jewish environment and providing them with Jewish experiences, this program also will connect special needs Jewish children in Omaha with other regional YACHAD Chapters. LIFELINES, sponsored by Temple Israel, will feature a series of storytelling programs for the
entire community including families with young children, adults, older adults, and students. Core groups will be formed to study and learn how to use the literary arts of listening, telling, and writing to express life stories, family histories, and Jewish culture. The intention is to bring youth and older adults together to share life stories, to express themselves creatively, and to transmit Jewish heritage. A 'sister school' relationship is to be established with students in Israel to explore each other's cultures via letters, stories, E-Mail, teleconununications, etc. Teachers are to be trained to incorporate these styles of learning into their classroom lessons. The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society received a grant for a two-year period to take Jewish children (parents are invited), teenagers, youth groups, and newcomers on bus tours of old and new synagogues, cemeteries, the funeral home, butcher shops, neighborhoods, etc. Tour guides will describe the history of the Jewish community and respond to riders' questions. The goal of this program is to develop an understanding of Jewish Omaha's roots, its history, development, and growth. Project Talmud is an opportunity to expose children to Jewish law, love, and lore by tapping into a national program. Sponsored by Chabad House, specially trained students will be in Omaha in November to give participants a sampling of Talmud although no prior Talmudic or Jewish textual background is necessary. The program strives to build and enhance Jewish pride and encourage nine to 16-year-old8 to continue their Jewish studies and involvement by addressing specific topics in the Talmud. Myra Oberman is chairman of the Grants Committee. Other members of the committee are Alan Binamow, Pam DePorte, Holly Fineman, Jonathan Broder, Dani Shrago, Bobbi Leibowitz, Carol Katznian, Rosalie Saltzman and Mary Rich. The Esther K. Newman/Carolyn Kully Newman grants are administered by The Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.
Professor seeks understanding By Shana Novak, Syracuae University Jewish Preas intern Editor's Note: Shana Novak based the following story on a telephone interview with Julius Lester. Her opinion is included. Upon opening the evening newspaper, it is not uncommon to find a fea-1 ture article on Louis I Farrakahn. While watching the evening newscast, one will often hear a report on I Farrskahn's hateful message. But turn off j the TV and put down the | paper, because en June | 11, the Omaha community will have a chance I to hear a speaker far Julius Lester more interesting than any news brief Julius Lester, professor of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Massachusetta/Amherst, is an accomplished writer, singer, religious leader, and an sward-winning educator. He it also a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement. Julius Lester is an African American Jew who has a very personal view of Louis Farrakahn. *I have been involved with African American/ Jewish lisusa for SO jreus and while I do not identify with Farrakahn'a anU-Seniitiin, I can identify
with both sides of his issue," Professor Lester said. He will be visiting UNO and UNL in June to speak on Louis Farrakahn because he feels that there has always been an important interest in African American/ Jewish relations. During his presentation, he will encourage his listeners to focus less on Farrakahn as a person and more on the message of Farrakahn. Too many people focus on Farrakahn as an individual when they should be hearing his message as a representation of our society today," he said. Professor Lester pointed out that the messages Farrakahn conveys are easily found in social trends—such as growing racial tenaion and antiSemitism. Because these trends are so easily recognizable and are growing in popularity, the professor suggests that *we stop the character assassination of Farrakahn (he is human) and take a look at where we, as a society, are headed* Mr. Lester grew up in the South and also the Mi((west so he is familiar with the reactions that he might encounter when presenting this fragile sulyect to the Jewish citizens of Nebraska. Not just here, the Heartland, but all over this country. Professor Lester said that ha has "been met with underatandiog and sympathy from both sides. 'Most people will actually agree with me,' he added. His talks are In Omaha, June 11 at 7:30 pjn., at the UNO Aluaonl Center and in Lincoln on June IS at 7dO pjB. at Love Library.
trrw--"' ifiiw'.^^,,' -'^•"'^'•-•Trrnniiisa^rfn
Federation selects two young leaders
Robert Eisenbers
Beth Friedman
By Morria Maline Beth Friedman and Robert Eisenberg have been selected by the Jewish Federation of Omaha as recipients of Young Leadership Awards. The awards will be presented during the Federation's annual meeting, June 12 at 7:30 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center. The election of Federation and Agency ofBcers, and the presentation of other awards also will take place at that time. Nominated for the Lois Jeanne Schrager Award, Ms. Friedman was cited for her leadership activities in B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, National Council of Jewish Women, and B'nai B'rith Women as well as numerous other organizations. Her activity as president of B'neu B'rith Women was singled out for particular achievement as was her role as an advocate for mentally and physically challenged children. Nominated for the Justin Greenberg Young Leadership Award, Mr. Eisenberg is the current president of the Jewish Prest. As president, Mr. Eisenberg has played a vital role in helping the community's newspaper achieve financial success and in motivating staff to a high performance level. Mr. Eisenberg also has served the Federation as a member of the Board of Directors and as a member on the Budget and Allocations Committee. He is the author of the book, "Boychiks in the Hood," now in its fourth printing, and has served as the featured speaker at the 1995 book fair sponsored by the Jewish Federation Library.
Mari Sandoz Society honors Feliman, Pollak The first "In the Spirit of Mari Sandoz' award will be presented to Nebraska Jewish Historical Society co-founders Mary Feliman and Oliver Pollak on June 8. The ceremony and presentation of certificates will take place at the annual meeting of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society at a banquet and lecture at Chadron State College in Chadron, NE. The names of both recipients will also appear on a permanent memorial in the Mari Sandoz High Plains Conference Center on the campus of Chadron State College. This award recognizes individuals for their contributions to the people of the Plains for service to youth, cultural preservation and environment. These were areas in which Mari Sandoz' life and the work of her family touched Nebraska's heritage and the quality of life of the region. The theme of this year's annual meeting it Mori's first book 'Old Jules,* about her father, Jules Sandoz.
Fsim®F's 'Bsif @m @(wk