January 31, 1997

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CalBbraUng More Than 75 Yean of Service V0I.LXXIV

No. 21

Omaha, NE

23 Shevat, 5757

January 31,1997

Phil Schrager honored for supporting endowment growth

Open letter to the Jewish Community

by Claudia Sherman, Foundation Public Relations Coordinator Phillip G. Schrager, nominated by The of Nebraska at Omaha Foundation of the Jewish Federation, has been which provides up to 48 named one of 21 recipients of the 1996 Council of four-year scholarships Jewish Federation's (CJF) Endowment annually to Nebraska Achievement Award. The announcement was made students who demonat the 1996 CJF General Assembly in Seattle, WA. strate leadership abilities The Endowment Achievement Awards are prein high school and who sented annually to members of the lay community continue to do so at who, through their leadership, vision and dedica- ^^^ "^ ^^HtoUNO. tion, have been instrumental to the successful ttj^m kt ^^^^k In 1993. Mr. Schrager growth of their Federation's endowment funds. ^^^1 \ ^^^^^H also created the PaceThe Phillip G. and Terri L. Schrager Foundation, ^^^" _ ' ^^^^^BH setter Academy of Arts, the Jewish Federation of Omaha's first supporting Phil Schrager Academics, Culture and foundation, which was established in 1985 by Mr. Sports, a program in conjunction with the Omaha Schrager and his wife, helps fund the Bureau of Public Schools for mostly minority, low-income, atJewish Education's learning disabilities program, risk children. college scholarships, the ADL/CRC. the JCC's The Academy acts as a school within the public ARTZA trip to Israel, the Klutznick/Creighton sqhool system for 108 children, ranging from symposium, B'nai B'rith, Soviet resettlement edu- grades four through 12, by providing tutoring, cation, BBYO, and Friedel Jewish Academy. counseling and life-style development. Through In response to the recognition by CJF, Mr. Mr. Schrager's generosity, each year, 12 high Schrager said, "This award should have a co-recipi- school graduates of the Academy receive $2000 ent—that being my wife, Terri, who was instru- annual college scholarships for four years. mental in the creation of our Fund and who has He has served as chairman of numerous fundbeen intimately involved in both the administra- raising efforts including the capital drive to build tion and implementation of the grants we have the new Beth El Synagogue, the Jewish made over the years. Terri is a unique individual Federation's annual campaign in 1992, and the within the Jewish community insofar that she is United States Holocaust Museum Omaha not Jewish by birth but has a huge Jewish heart." Campaign. The Lois Jeanne Schrager Memorial Fund, in In addition, he was general chairman of fundmemory of Mr. Schrager's first wife, was estab- raising efforts on behalf of the Boys' Clubs of {ished in 1980 to honor one of the Jewish Omaha, Bellevue University's new library, and Federation's young leaders. Goodwill Industries. Mr. Schrager, founder, chairman of the Board Named the Jewish Federation's 1993 and CEO of Pacesetter Corporation, has served on Humanitarian of the Year, Mr. Schrager was honvarious boards and committees including Planned ored by the University of Nebraska at Omaha with Parentliood; Boys Clubs of Omaha; the University an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1992. of Nebraska Foundation; Bellevue College; Temple In 1994, he received the annual People of Vision Israel; Joslyn Art Museum; Opera Omaha; the Award from the Nebraska affiliate of the National Omaha Symphony; the Jewish Federation; Bemis Society to Prevent Blindness. In December 1996, Foundation; the University of Nebraska at Omaha; Mr. Schrager received the Order of the Tower Goodwill Industries; Nebraska Arts Foundation; Award, UNO's highest honor. the Omaha Institute of Information Science, "In addition to establishing two important funds Technology and Engineering; and the Phillip within The Foundation," noted Sheldon Bernstein, Schrager Foundation which provides support to endowment director, "Phil Schrager's unselfish more than 30 organizations. dedication and community service set a remark In 1982, Mr. Schrager created the Pacesetter able example that deserves our praise and respect Leadership Scholarship Program at the University on the local as well as the national level."

As rabbis and concerned Jews, we express our personal commitment to Klal Yisrael. We, at the same time, urge our people to demonstrate commitment to Klal Yisrael through both word and deed. It is important for every Conservative and Reform Jew to support Klal Yisrael by making meaningful gifts to the 1997 Federation/UJA Campaign. At this time, when pluralism in the Jewish community is being challenged, it is especially important-this year-for Conservative andi Reform congregants to support Federation/UJA Campaigns because their causes are ones that need and deserve our support. The United Jewish Appeal and the Council of Jewish Federations did not cause the challenge to religious pluralism in Israel. To the contrary, they have demonstrated over the past several months, a genuine willingness to be our partners in the articulation of distress to the government of Israel. We welcome that support and expect them to heighten their efforts to strengthen Klal Yisrael and the cause of pluralism in Israel. As Conservative and Reform Jews, there are constructive steps that each of us can take. We must continue educating fellow Jews as to the implications of legislation that, in effect, disenfranchises non-Orthodox rabbis in Israel. It is important that each Jew understand the issues as well as our hurt. We must express our feelings to the Israeli government. Letters must be received by members of the Knesset so that they will sense our position and our pain, and understand our outrage! But, we must support our Federation Campaigns this year. We must not hurt our fellow Jews in the Former Soviet Union who require our help. We (Continued on page 2)

H. Lee and Carol Gendler Family Center dedicated at Beth El

Friedel students celebrate Tu B'Shevat by Diane Azler Baum

Rabbi Debbie Stiel tpoke to PJA itudenti about Tu B'Shevat and Iirael. Students at Friedel Jewish Academy celebrated Tu B'Shevat with an agenda of learning activities that eiplored the foods, music and natural changM aModat«d with the holiday in Iirael. One feature of the day was a presentation by Rabbi Debbia Stiei of Temple Iiraal. Using visual* and narrative, aha connected Tu B'Shevat with the land of Israel. She spoke to ttudenta about 'larael't remarkable beauty' and the many type* of geography 'that contribute to the oountfy* uniqueneu BI a land* Rabbi Oavriel Hercig ihared the program and

joined students in a sampling of the fruits and nuta associated with the land of Israel. This is the holiday where we highlight the seven species which are representative of Israel's abundance," said Eliane Freund, co-chair of the PTO. "These seven species, or shiva minim, are dates, figs, pomegranates, wheat, barley, olives and fruits of the vine. Every year, the Academy takes the opportunity of the holiday to look at agriculture and teach students about ecology and conservation," she explained. Children from the JCC's preschool, guests of the Academy on the morning of Tu B'Shevat, planted parsley with the help of Friedel students. Parsley, a symbol of springtime, will grow in time for PaBSOver. In addition, the planting of parsley repreaanta the planting of aapUnga ai done by Israeli acbool children in obeervanee of Tu B'Shevat The activity waa suggested and planned by Lynne Saltaman, FTC co-chair. Friedel'* music teacher, Maya Wertheimer, brought another dimeniion'to the celebration by teaching students the aong 'Haghkaidiyah Prahat," or The Almond Tree i* Blosaoming." The almond tree, the first to bloasom every year, has become a symbol of the 'new year of the trees.'

Thia balldlMitail^'klecaey." Mid Carol Gendler." To||| ^l^||#*Mi> abe added, 'O.eam aa much aboHtfcaiiig Jewiah aa you can while you're here." (More photOM on petge lH) INFORMATIONAL MEETING... regarding the effects of the recent Welfare Rcfonn Act and their impact on our Jcwiah Community to be held: Sunday, Feb. 2, 3:30 p.m. in the JCC Adult Lounge

Please call Rita Paskowitt, JFS Resettlement Coordinator, at 334-6496 with any questioni HH«OPMAUNOHHO« COOfiiUiaiHi': KicuMMCci leMMa ^XMITOIX) acoaa o \»4i^mu wM^af* N 0 ero tfitmnntaam ummum u aaaiy espeaocyn o6*MHiy COCTONTCS • •ocxpeoene 2 •espaju 1997 roM • 3J0 • JCC Adult Lounga (romnaa tju upociyi i Uanpe fjifeHcxM Q6annu). Co MXWI Hmpocaiai oBiMancs K Pme lltOEOaMi • Koopamarapy oraea aepeceMaiu ciyailu ttifemtM ceaui (JFS RenttleiiMnt Coordinator) ao re.iD«oiy 33V6495L '.i.-isasaGjEsaiii'


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January 31, 1997 by Jewish Press - Issuu