iBr:6.w£'-aK»3sarfe-:t • ,•
.•fi-MBtaat^feva
J&i
Jewish Pres
4 111 f .11
||,|i
rJl HP. I -.III It' I SHU IV M I INrOI.N t'l
Citnang Uon Than 75 Ymura ot Sfylc9
VoLLXXIVNo.4
Oiiialu.NB
ai Tiahret, 8787
Rabbi Kushner to speak at Beth El by Michael A. Levine, Beth How Good Do We Have To Be? It is a question we may have asked ourselvea at oae time or another; it is also the title of the newest book hy worldfamous author Harold Kushner. Rabbi Kushner will speak about his books and other Judaic topics Monday evening, Oct. 21, 7 p.m., at Beth El Synagogue. Rabbi Kushner is the Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, MA, after having served that congregation for 24 years. He is best known as author of When Bad Things Happen To Good People, an international best-seller first published in 1981. The book has been translated into 12 languages and was recently selected by members of the Bookof-the-Month-Club as one of the ten most influential books of recent years. fie has also written When All You Ever Wanted Isn't Enough, which was awarded the Christopher Medal for its "contribution to the exaltation of the human spirit." In 1996, Rabbi Kushner was honored by the Christophers as one of 50 people who have made ' the world a better place in the past 50 years. His more recent books include When Children Asi About God and Who Needs God. His 1993 book. To Life!, was also honored by the National Jewish Book Council. Rabbi Kushiier was bom in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from Columbia University. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1960 and awarded a doctoral degree in Bible by the
EI programming director seminary in 1972. He has | six honorary doctorates, I has studied at Hebrewl itniversity in Jerusalem, I and has taught at Clark I University, Worcester,! MA, and the Rabbinical I School of the Jewish I Theological Seminary,! and for four years was I the editor of Conservative | Judaism magazine. Rabbi Kushner is married tp the former I Suzette Estrada ofl Omaha. Mrs. Kushner'sj family attended Beth El Rabbi Kuahner Synagogue. The evening is sponsored by the Beth El Special Events and Adult Education committees. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students/senior citizens, and are available at the Beth El Synagogue office or at the door that evening. A limited number of patron tickets are available and cost $100 (which includes two tickets and an autographed copy of Rabbi Kushner's latest book). Books will be available for sale and Rabbi Kushner will sign them following the program. A dessert reception will also follow the event. For more information, please call the Beth El Synagogue office at 492-8550.
October 4.1986
Open house at former Beth El The former Beth El Synagogue building at 49th and Famam Streets will be available for a special viewing by members of the Omaha Jewish community Sunday, Oct. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. The 49th Avenue entrance (the stairs on the west side of the building) will be the access for the "Open House" which is being sponsored by the firm of Holland Basham Architects who purchased the buildjng earlier this year. , According to Tim Holland, company president and 'dreamer' of the potential reuse of the building, the original first floor sanctuary space has now been converted to multiple offices with m^'or changes in windows and alcoves. The area where the Ark and Bimah were located has been transformed into a library, conference room, and exhibit space. The former social hall, kitchen area, bridal room, youth lounge and Braille room are being converted into a health club and exercise room. In 214 months, the firm has remodeled 10,000 square feet, incorporating many of the original materials, including sconce lights, main space lights and wood detailing. Some of the synagogue flooring remains as well. , The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is working with the new owners of the buildiu;; to create an historical remembrance of the original Beth El Synagogue. Additional plans for renovation and redesign will be completed in the coming year and will be open for viewing by the Jewish community.
JCAC's 'Class-0-Rama' to feature folk artist' Juan Sandoval, well-known New Mexican folk artist, will be one of the featured presenters at the Jewish Cultural Arts Councils Second Annual Class-O-Rama Sunday, Oct. 13, 7 to 9:30 p.m., at theJCC. Prior to the Class-O-Rama, Beth Israel ; Sisterhood will host a reception for Mr. Sandoval Saturday, Oct. 12, at the home of Joyce and Shelly Cohen, 8432 Hickory, at 8:15 p.m. Chairman is Annette Fettman. The JCAC is co-sponsor. As Mr. Sandoval's international reputetion as an artist grew, so did the discovery of his past. The artist stopped frequently at an Albuquerque Jewish deU, consistently ordering meat sandwiches, no cheese. When asked why, he replied, "My grandmother told me never to mix meat with milk." The deli's owner later gave Mr. Sandoval an article on the secret Crypto-Jews of New Mexico. Mr. Sandoval was subsequently visited by the ,late writer Paul Cowen and then by historian Stanley Hordes, both of whom had tracked him to .New Mexico. Together, they confirmed his Jewish lieritage. They discovered a cousin's gravestone with a Star Qf David on it, and the only one in the entire cemetery facing east. The final verification came when the artist confronted his 87-year-old mother, who replied, "Yes, we are Jews." Mr. Sandoval's Indian art has now been joined hy Jewish figures, including rabbis with Torah
"Standing Bubbe with pot," is a piece by Juan Sandoval, an artist showing at the JCC Oct. IS. scrolls and Bar and Bat Mitzvah boys and girls. No molds are used and each piece is one-of-a-kind. As
the artist continues to research his heritage, new works emerge, including a collection of immigrant Jews on New York's Lower East Side. ~ Mr. Sandoval's work has been purchased for the folk art collection in the Vatican, by Prince Rainier of Monaco, Steven Speilberg and President Reagan, as well as for the permanent collection of the International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, NM, and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. The Class-0-Raroa includes 11 mini-courses and a dessert buiTet as well as live Klezmer music with Tuffy's Band. Cost is $7 for adulte and $5 for Seniore/Students. For more information, call Gloriann Levy at 3346403. Babysitting is available by reservation only. "Most of Mr. Sandoval's works utilize the 'storyteller theme' made popular through the Cochite Pueblo clay figures. He draws comparisons of how the Native American culture was passed on by, word of mouth, much like Judaism," said Shirley Goodman, a member of the committee. "His interpretations tickle your funny bone. His works are just fun." For reservations for the Saturday night reception, call Joyce Cohen at 397-6262, Shirley Goodman at 554-1821, or Mrs. Levy at 334-6403. Gloriann Levy, JCAC Director, cuid SuMan Paley, Publicity Chairman for Beth Iirael Synagogue, contributed to thin article.
'Rescue, relief and reconstruction' mark UJA/Women's Campaign
Ramti Pfifer (left), InltUl Gifta «hali^ I man, chata with Betty Kane, head of National UJA Women's Campaign.
Betty Kane (left), offers eongratulatlons on Barb Platt (left), oo-rhair of this year's •uceeasful campaigns In Omaha to Linda Women's Campaign, Mikt Platt and Mrs. Kane Mann, oo-ohalr o^ IMTs Wooiea's Compalgn. diacuw JDC projects in Latvia and Cuba.