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Issues discussed at Strategic Planning Forum
Outreach Mission planned
By Pam Monaky By Pain Monaky, Federation comanmieatioiu director Federation oommnnications director The Jewish Federation of Omaha held the first of of Excellence boards and the shrinking base of two community forums on July 1. Members of the volunteer involvement. Under the current draft Jewish Community and Federation Stratee'c proposal, the boards will continue to have authoriPlanning Committee discussed issues presented in ty and responsibility for their programs and operthe Strategic Planning draft proposal which ations. At the same time, the proposal encourages appeared in the Jewish Press on June 28. more cooperation among all of the Centers of Approximately 20 people attended the forum, Excellence and their boards. which wad held in the JCC older adult lounge. Margo Riekes, chairman of the Human A second community forum is scheduled for Resources sub-committee, explained that her subThursday, July 18, 7:30 p.m., also to be held in the committee is discussing the issue of how to ensure JCC older adult lounge. The discussions from both that volunteers remain involved through boards forums will be presented to the Strategic Planning and hands-on activities. Committee at their July 26 meeting, and they will Some questions were raised about the board make their recommendations to the Federation representation in the Federation for the synaboard of directors at the Aug. 27 meeting. gogues with fewer than 100 families. Mr. Krutter The issues discussed were the role of the Jewish noted that the sub-committee's intention was for Press, the composition of the Federation board, the Federation Council and Center of Excellence Rabbi Aryeh and rJyae Azriel in Jemaalem. the board nomination process, volunteer involve- boards to provide opportunities for the smaller ment, community wide interaction, the representa- synagogues to became involved with Federation The Jewish Federation of Omaha's Outreach tion of the smaller synagogues, the use of the term planning and programs. Mission, scheduled for Feb. 16 through Feb. 26, 'Center of Excellence," and the role of various Mr. Krutter thanked everyone for attending the 1997, will be a unique experience with a unique boards under the draft proposal. community forum and noted that all comments purpose. Young married couples are invited to parIssues that may appear to be missing from the and suggestions would be considered and brought ticipate in this extraordinary Israel mission, a first Internal Relations sub-committee's proposal are to the attention of the Strategic Planning for the Omaha community. being addressed by the five other Strategic Committee on July 26, following the second comRabbi Aryeh Axriel of Temple Israel is one of the Planning sub-committees (see box at right), said munity forum on July 18. leaders of the Outreach Mission. He is currently on Barbara Chandler, Federation assistant director. sabbatical in Israel and will return tc the commuSub-€ommittee« of the Strategic Planning When all the sub-committees complete their work, nity in late August. "This will be a mission that Committee Jewish Federation of Omaha the result will be a plan for the Federation that will strengthen Jewish identity among young couWliat do the sab-committee* do? meets the needs of the community and encourages •Internal Relations, chaired by Steve Nogg, is ples and Uioee who are raising Jewish children, he increased cooperation among the Federation, synasaid. establishing an efficient structure that provides gogues and oUier Jewish arganizations. This mission is for fir8^timer8, people who have for agency latitude in programming while ensurIn the current proposal on Internal Relations, the sti|^ed about Israel and the Jewish people, but Jewish Press would be a committee of the ing accountability within a community miBsion. liave never really experienced the feeling of a com• Communal Directions, chaired by Marty Federation board with representation on that munity the way Israel can teach them,' Rabbi board. Some of the attendees of the forum were Shukert, is addressing how Federation agencies Azriel added. ', will use resources and which programs and serconcerned about the Jewish Preu independent Cost of the mission is $976 per person with a publishing policy under this proposal. Strategic vices have priority for the future of the Jewish $260 minimum gift to the UJA/Federation Planning Committee Chairman Forrest Krutter community, Campaign. This mission is for first-time •Human Resources, chaired by Margo Riekes, said that under the current draft proposal the Federation Mission participants. It is open to all Jewith Preaa will continue to report news of local is looking at staffing, volunteerism and evalua- couples regardless of synagogue affiliation. interest, community organizations and Jewish tion processes. Rabbi Azriel noted, "In my work with recently •Israel, chaired by Jan Schneiderman, is develinterest world wide. converted Jews, those going through the process of Another issue discussed was how the Federation oping a plan for a reciprocal relationship between conversion and those who are raising their chilnominating process can ensure broad community Israel and Omaha. dren Jewish, I realized that a topic such as the •Financial Resource Development, chaired by representation on the Federation board. One sugState of Israel and the validity of the State for gestion was that the nominating committee consist Fred Simon, will design a more integrated one's own Jewish identity can be told not when you of the Center of Excellence presidents, along with approach to fund-raising. are 7,000 miles away, but when you walk on the • External Relationships, chaired by Joel the Federation president and past president. The streets, experience the sights and sounds, and the importance of campaign and synagogue involvement Alpersqn and Amie Weitz, is continuing to develpeople of Israel." op partnerships between the Federation and synin the nominating was also discussed. Space for the Outreach Mission is limited and agogues. Other concerns included the authority of Center available on a first sign-up basis. Registration and informational meetings will start in September. Interested couples may contact Jan Perelman, Federation Missions director, at 334-6427, The international Summer Educational chance for the community to unitedly experience Environmental Development (SEED) program, con- the joy of learning about Judaism for its own sisting of study groups, lectures, workshops and sake. "The idea is to incorporate traditional Jewish individual learning, will once again be in Omaha themes into our own lives, making them relevant from July 21 through Aug. 6. and meaningful in a very personal way." Individual study sessions, which range from 15 Topics will range from "Adam and Eve and minutes to one hour, will be held each morning at Noah's Ark: Re-examining the stories from our Beth Israel Synagogue from 9 a.m. until noon. A youth," in an attempt to explain universal percepvariety of evening programs will take place at the tions into human nature, as well as "Loehon Hora: Jewish Community Center. A slip of the tongue," a discussion about our obligAccording to chairperson Allan Qonsher, "SEED is ations toward one another to respect and protect an exceptional opportunity to team whatever in the each other's feelings. entire Jewish spectrum is personally interesting to SEED is sponsored by Torah U'Mesorah, the you. national Orthodox day school organization. Since 'Our scholars-in-reeidenoe are available and will- its inception in 1974, SEED has provided Jewish ing to teach individuals on a specific sulgect, text or summer educational programs for more than 150 just to answer general questions you may have communities worldwide. A volunteer rabbinical couple and two yeehiva about Judaism, for as much time as people have to spend. AlMolutely no background or knowledge in students from Yeshiva Chaim Berlin will lead the classes and lectures. required for participation in SEED.' All sessions are free and open to the eommunily. Last summer, the SEED program attracted over Mallasa Shapiro (second from left) and 100 men, women and young people from all area SEED is partially (Unded by the E.K. Newman firlends were on hand to wish Annie Nogg synagogues. This is truly a unique program,' said Fund. (third frvm left) and Rachel Riekes (Car right) For detaib about spedflc daises and times, or Rabbi Qonsher, 'which joins Jews together from all agoodtiiptolaraelwl" ARTZA gnmp. ^m baekgraunds and affllistions. It's a woadafflil for more information, contact Allan Qoosher st Additions' ....pagiBd 3304014, or Beth Israel Synagogue at 5604388.
SEED program returns to Omaha
B,8u«nPai.y
ARTZA trip to Israel
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