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CBlebratIng More Than 75 Years of Service Vol. Lxxrv
No. 20
Omahti, NE
Rabbi Azriel receives 'Living the Dream' award Omaha Mayor Hal Daub presented Temple Israel's Rabbi Aryeh Azriel with the Dr. Martin Luther King "Living the Dreahi" award Monday night. The presentation took place at the Orpheum during the annual Martin Luther King Celebration. The mayor praised Kabbi Aryeh Azriel Rabbi Azriel for his work in the community on such projects as the lowincome home-building, Black/Jewish Dialogue, a community garden project and last year's Black/Jewish Passover seder. Jane Batt, Director of the National Conference (of Christians and Jews), emceed the evening with George Davis, assistant to the mayor and acting director of the Human Relations Department. He noted, "The recipients are special...th.eir work serves as a shining beacon in the midst of darkness...and hope where there has been despair."
16 Shevat, 5787
January 24,1997
Rep. Christensen makes first trip to Israel by Carol Katzman 'When Jon Cliristengen was running for congress in 1994, he promised members of Omaha's Jewish community that he would "one day travel to Israel to better understand the vital interest America has in Us heritage and its friendship." Though he was unable to visit Israel during his first term as Nebraska's Second District Congressman, Rep. Christensen fulfilled that promise last week in a whirl^yind seven-day trip. Accompanied by Omaha lawyer Bruce Brodkey, 10 other members of the House of Representatives and one congressional staffer, Christensen met with Israel's top officials in government, business and military. The trip was' sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, an arm of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Mors leave for Israel
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Rep. Christensen looks out at the Judean desert firom atop the fortress at Masada.
Of his first visit there and his impression of the people, places and events, Christensen said, "It was important to me as a congressman to assess the success of the $3 billion in aid the United States provides to Israel in order to continue my strong support of (the program). This trip gave me all the assurance I need. "The fact that we have a friend like Israel in the middle of such an unstable area is an overwhelming advantage to America." The group was in Israel during the last-minute negotiations concerning redeployment in Hebron and was unable to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Christensen and Brodkey did meet with such high-ranking officials as Natan Sharansky, Minister of Some of Alon Mar's Icids" present a banner to Industry and Trade; Dr. Dore Gold, him at last month's farewell brunch, honor- foreign policy advisor to the prime ', ing his work with teens. Jeremy Ivers (left), minister; David Levy, Minister of and Mike Cohn are members of Chaim Foreign Affairs; Shimon Peres, Weizmann AZA. Mor was director of the B'nai chairman of the Labor Party; and Dr. Nadine Trachtenberg, Inter' B'rith Youth OrganlMition for four year*. national Securities at Bank Hapoalim. In an impromptu visit, the two also visited with Leah Rabin, wife of slain Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin. Of the current peace process, Christensen said, "This trip gave me tlie strong impression that the peace process is moving in the right direction, but it's one step at a time. "It's very difficult when you have rogue, renegade groups that don't desire peace who are attacking innocent Israeli citizens." The tightly-scheduled trip did and Alon Mor left for Israel last week allow for visits to the Dead Sea, Yad where she will begin ulpan (intensive Vashem, the Old City of Jerusalem, Bebrew classes) and he will enter the Israel Jericho, the Golan Heights and Defense Force. The Mors will make their Masada, Christensen wag 'especially home in Haifa and can be reached via e-mail moved' by his visit to the 2(X)0-year•t: armhaifa9aol.com old fortress.
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Bruce Brodkey, left, and Congressman Jon Christensen visited with Leah Rabin in an unscheduled meeting at her home.
"Surrpunded by Roman conquerors, Masada's defenders were forced to choose whether to surrender or die for what they believed, " he said. "They chose death rather than dishonoring n,nnfl,nnfl their faith. The commitment to principle shown by the Jewish people at that time has emerged again and again throughout history when faced with oppression. Seeing Masada itself brought that home to me," he added. iZiLjOiUloa For Bruce Brodkey, the trip was also 'inspirational.' 'We were given access to the highest ranking members of the Israeli government and the Israeli Defense Force," he said. "I felt we received full JZmMfia and thoughtful responses to all of our inquiries." AIPAC also arranged meetings for the delegation with one of the primary Palestinian negotiators and with S1.S mlllinn Chairman Yasser Arafat, though Brodkey did not meet with Arafat as implied in an article in the Omaha World-Herald. "I think that without any doubt, the -SlmUUcuL delegation came away from the meeting with a renewed understanding of the critical role Israel plays in the Middle East and an appreciation of the strategic and territorial issues it lives JSOfljigfi. with," Brodkey said. Christensen added, "1 wanted to hear 1997 all sides of the issues, even when I disUJAyFedcration agreed. I wanted to get an unflltered Campaign Update point of view from everybody involved. $2,500,000 "I'd encourage all Nebraskans, regardless of faith, to visit the Holy Pledged to date Land. It changes your life spiritually Goal: $3,000,000 for the better," he said. *It brings to mind what you have Thank you all for read all your life. getting your cards in "Seeing first-hand the complexity of promptly! Ktepuplhe the issues, the importance of the area in history and the dialogue that must good work in (he final take place is sobering, to say the least,' sirelch so we can meet our goal! he concluded.
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