June 20, 1997

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Celebrating More Than 75 Years VoLLXXIV

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Art Grossman to receive Federation's Humanitarian of the Year

Documentary to be aired Sunday night:

The Lost City of Bethsaida,' a biblical city found in modern times

Lost for nearly 2,000 years, the ancient city of Bethsaida, located on the northern shore of the Sea In 1933, when Art Grossman was 21 years old - of Galilee near the Jordan River, has recently been sharing its.long held secrets. Bethsaida offers the and an advisor for AZA viewer a unique glimpse of a First Century city #1, he raised money for being excavated today. Jewish philanthropies "The Lost City of Bethsaida," a one-hour docuwith the nickels, dimes mentary produced by UNO Television at the and quarters donated by University of Nebraska at Omaha, will premiere on the AZA members. the statewide% Nebraska ETV Network Sunday, Times have changed, but June 22, at 5 p.m. this "premiere fundraisUNO Television crews traveled to Israel for three er" as he calls himself, weeks to record the sights and sounds of the excahas been soliciting donavations. David C. Rotterman served as producer, tions from his peers for director, writer. Cecilia Marshall served as director more than 60 years. of photography, and Brian Shaffer was editor. Art Grossman Because of his continMajor funding was provided by the Gilbert M. ued and tireless dedication to the Omaha Jewish community, the Jewish Federation of Omaha has and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation, with addinamed Mr. Grossman Humanitarian of the Year, tional support from the University of Nebraska at the community's most prestigious volunteer honor. Omaha, Truman State University, Dana College, He will be honored at the Federation annual meet- Doane College, Hastings College, Israel ing Tuesday, June 24, 7:30 p.m.. in the Jewish Government Tourist Corporation and the Nebraska Humanities Council. Community Center Theater. : Bethsaida means literally "the house of the fish"I was taught to do this-I'm Jewish," said Grossman. "The word in Hebrew is tzedakah and it erman." The city was a seaport and a major crossdoesn't mean charity; it means justice. It means roads of its time. It has been known for its connecthat as Jews we even things out for. everyone else," tion with the works of Jesus and later the First he added. This sense of mitzvah has guided his life Jewish Revolt against the Romans. It is mentioned in each of the four Gospels and by the Roman histofor all of his 85 years. . . . - . , _ Art Grossman was born in Omaha, and he and rian Josephus. his wife^ Anne, who died'in 1995; were married for 61 years. They have four children; Dr. Ronald Grossman of New York City, Roberta Lane Grossman of Omaha, Arlene Grossman Gitles of Hundreds of well-wishers jammed the Jewish Northbrook, IL, and Lawrence Grossman of New Community Center Auditorium last Sunday to York City. (Continued on page 10) greet Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke on their 60th wedding anniversary. Joined by their daughters Madeline and Netta, and son Saul, and their Hate crimes bill families, the Kripkes basked in the admiration of signed by Gov. Nelson their friends. Representing the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Ron Rosenbaum spoke of the role of education in the lives of both Kripkes. "It's a little intimidating," he said, "to speak about education in the presence of educators like Myer and Dorothy. Rabbi Kripke, who has taught from the pulpit and in the classroom, and Dorothy, who, through her books, has taught our children and children's children, have influenced the lives in Omaha and now, through their generous gift to Present at the signing were, from left: Bob the Seminary, will influence even more." Wolfson; Larry Raful, AOL president; Gov. Ben ' Rabbi Rosenbaum compared the impact of the Nelson; and Ann Goldstein, ADL Vice-president. Kripkes' lives as educators to last week's Torah Last week, Governor Nelson signed into law LB portion which contains the priestly blessing. "Why does G-d need the priests to bless his peo90, the new Nebraska Hate Crime Law. "Since joining the ADL staff nine years ago, I ple?" asked Rabbi Rosenbaum, "The answer is that have been diligently working to pass this law," said the Kohanim play the role of teachers and impart Bob Wolfson, ADL/CRC Director. Wolfsoh helped that G-d is behind everything that is good. to form a coalition that included the National . "The blessing continues with an odd joining of Conference of Christians and Jews,v Urban League 'May you be blessed with wealth,' and 'May G-d of Nebraska and Chicano Awareness Center. The protect you from those who would do harm.' The Unicameral passed the bill, placing Nebraska rabbis note that while wealth is a good thing,to have, it often corrupts and distorts the intention of among the majority that have hate crime laws. A hate crime is a crime in which an individual the holder of wealth. "Obviously, in the case of the Kripkes, G-d gave intentionally selects a victim, or the property is the object of the crime, because of the individual's them wealth through which they are able to do belief or perception regarding the race, color, reli- good things," Rabbi Rosenbaum concluded, "And in gion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, their case, they went above and beyond the miniof sexual orientation of that person. With a hate mum in doing more than is required." Bruce Shackman, President of Beth El crime law'in place, the penalty may be enhanced and the same act may carry an increased jail time Synagogue, presented the Kripkes with a plaque honoring the couple on their 60th anniversary. He or a larger fine determined by the judge. " The passage of LB 90 is not an end unto itself," was followed by Rabbi Carol Davidson, Director of said Wolfson. "Hate and bias will always be pre- Planned Giving at JTS, who noted that "in the last sent in our communities and our state. However, it year, my relationship with Myer and Dorothy has is up to all Nebraskans to continue to work togeth- become such that it seemed very appropriate to celebrate this occasion on Father's Day." . er to address these important social issues." by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director

Excavators uncover archeological finds at the Bethsaida site. Prof. Richard Freund will lead another group of students to work at the site hi Israel this summer. Bethsaida was home to several of the apostles and was associated with some of the most important works of Jesus. It was said to be the site of the healing of a blind man. Near Bethsaida's shores, it was reported Jesus walked on the water. Just outside of the city was the setting for the "feeding of the multitudes." Josephus tells of the battles near the city in the year 67 of the Common Era (CE), a prelude to the fall of Gamla, Jerusalem and Masada. (Continued on page 2)

JTS honors Kripkes

The extended Kripke family includes, front row: Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke; standing: Rose Ziegman, family friend; Madeline Kripke, Saul Kripke, Yossi and Netta Stern and their children} Tamar and GO. Rabbi Davidson continued, "Their gift (to JTS) was a gift born out of a marriage in the seminary courtyard." In presenting a gift from Women's League of Conservative Judaism, she noted that "What you've done is teach by example." Rabbi Davidson also publicly thanked Bernice Wolfson for coordinating the champagne dessert reception for the Kripkes and the community. The Kripkes' daughter, Netta Stern, gave her parents a lead crystal vase which, she noted, "had to be unwrapped several times for airport security." The vase replaced one that Netta had broken as a child growing up in the Kripke household on Happy Hollow Boulevard. That vase was a wed-. ding gift and her parents were "kind in their rebuke, so it seemed fitting to replace it on the occasion of their 60th anniversary." In closing, Saul Kripke offered the traditional Shehecheeyanu. and nearly 300 friends and family members held up their glasses to say, "L'Chaim!" . (More photos on page 10) -

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

June 20,1997

Correction The Jewish Press erroneously reported the death of Rita Novak last week. We sincerely regret the error.

Speaks from the Word

by Rabbi Myer Kripke Parashat Behaalotekha Needed-More Saints

Excuse my ignorance, but I don't even know which teams in which sports are called "Saints." I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about peoSpecializing in Your Long Term Care Needs ple we need more of and haven't got. Providing you choices among These musings come from consideration of the most major insurance companies: interpretations of the Midrash to our Sidrah. The • Long Term Care • Home Health Care Sidrah opens with instructions to Aaron on how he • Medicare Supplements is to light the lights of the Sanctuary. The Midrash is delighted with the whole concept. It notes that Gary A. Katelman the Menorah was fashioned from one single piece of gold. It goes on to say that Moses was overcome 13031 Arbor St., Omaha, NE 68144 by the elaborate directions for the decoration on 330-9700 the Menorah and asked for help. When nothing else would do, the Lord told him to cast a bar of gold into the fire — and out came the Menorah, complete and with full design and all decorations in place! The Midrash tells the familiar story that Aaron Alan H. Friedman grew more and more unhappy as the twelve, days President progressed when the princes of the twelve tribes Graduate Gemologist brought gifts.to the Sanctuary and his tribe, the Levites, brought none. But his embarrassment dis9107 Wilshire Boulevard. Suite 320 appeared when the Lord told him that he had a Beverly Hills, California 90210 special honor reserved for him, the duty of lighting 888«489«4545 '• Fax 310• 278*5449 the Sanctuary lights. Member of West Coast Diamond Club Another interpretation of the Midrash has to do Estate Jewelers Association of America with the very word Behaalotekha, "when you American Gem Trade Association light," for the word implies raising aloft, lifting up. From this implied meaning, the Midrash assumes that Israel is to raise the status of humankind, and help human beings to reach a status of sainthood. Rabbinic Judaism knew no bounds in assuming that Israel was to be a pilot people, a role model for all the peoples and all. the nations. They viewed Israel, in the Biblical sense of a "light to the nations." ' Specializing in counseling for Light implies many things for us all. Light tends 'Individuals 'Families 'Children to lift our spirits, when the sunlight, for example, 10520 Burt Circle, Omaha breaks up the gloom of a grey sky. We .all know that it has been scientifically deter496-2300 mined that an increase of light can increase attenFax: 496-2766 tion spans and learning results in a classroom. One can hardly overdo this emphasis on light as a symbol of ethical ideas and ideals. To the extent CUP & SAVE that our world does have ideals, they derive largely from the Hebrew Scriptures, disseminated largely though Christianity and Islam. I CALENDAR OF EVENTS One of the greatest tragedies in human history is ^ SATURDAY, JUNE 21 the refusal of Christianity (and later of Islam) to I acknowledge the source of these ethical ideals. P Beth Israel Shabbos Kiddish honorp Indeed, in order to separate itself from Judaism, ing Howard and Laura Bloom & Christianity was eager to heap ignominy on Judaism, a fatal failing that is not yet excised from s (some) Christian teaching to this very day. J SUNDAY JUNE 22 In Judaism, large segments historically, ignored v In-Line Skating Workshop, 2:30 p.m. V E Amit Women Mother/Father in Israel E this false picture of Judaism and continued to adapt and strengthen values for living inherited Luncheon, 12:30 p.m., at Beth Israel from the Bible and rabbinic literature. This trend continues to this day. But most of us do not reach this ideal. We live in a world of realities. Our world MONDAY, JUNE 23 takes for granted the competitiveness and aggresYES Meeting, 9: 30 a.m. sion and selfishness that characterize almost all of us. I have yet to meet the saint necessary for the TUESDAY, JUNE 24 world of enlightenment. Most of us give no light, excepting to those closest and dearest to us. Federation Annual Meeting, 7:30 p.m. The "world is too much with us." Economic needs, BBYONight,6p.m. not tikkun olam, the improvement of the world, alas, motivate us. We need more saints.

L.T.C. Associates, Inc.

Alan Friedman Company

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 Breadbreakers, noon, Highland Country Club YJO Speaker, Gil Mann, 7 p.m.

£ THURSDAY, JUNE 26 , Walk-in Drop-in, 9: 30 a.m. p Temple Israel Sisterhood Adult & Eduction, 9:30 a.m., at Temple

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.ROSE NOVAK Services for Rose Novak, 82, were held June 10 at B e t h E lC e m e t e r y .

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She was preceded in death by her husband, Max. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Sheila and John Anderson, Houston; and son, Jerry of Omaha; grandchildren, Cindi and Ron Rosenberg, Chicago; David Anderson, Houston; Shana Novak, and Andrew Novak x>f Omaha. Memorials to Beth El Synagogue or the American Lung Association. LEAH GREENBERG Services for Leah Greenberg were held June 15 at Fisher Farm Cemetery. She died June 14 at the age of 87. She is survived by nieces and nephews. NICOLE BERKOWITZ Nicole Berkowitz, formerly of Omaha, died last week in Fort Meyers, FL. She is survived by her husband, Herb. FRANK R.ACKERMAN Former Omahan Frank Ackerman, editor of the . Jewish Press under the leadership of the late Dave Blacker, died June 9 in Arcadia, CA. He was 87. Survivors include his wife, Nena of Arcadia; sisters, Ann A. White and MoUie Kohn of Omaha. • . •:

Bethsaida documentary ' (Continued from page 1)

Moshe Katsav, Israeli Cabinet Minister of Tourism, receives an honorary doctorate from two of the University of Nebraska at Omaha regents during the premiere showing of the Bethsaida documentary and opening of the museum on the UNO campus. Yet sometime after the first century, the city was lost. For nearly 2000 years, pilgrims, scholars and archeologists searched but the city could not be found. When it was finally rediscovered in the late 1980's, an archeological excavation began. Yet there was one problem—the site was two miles away from the Sea of Galilee-and the ancient literature placed Bethsaida on the shores of the sea. Geologists and geographers were brought in and soon discovered the sea had moved and at one time Bethsaida was on the shore. Scholars from Israel, Germany and the United States are interviewed about their work on the Bethsaida excavations. The excavations are housed at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. A commemorative poster'suitable for framing is available from UNO Television, 60th and Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182 for $2 for postage and handling. "The Lost City of Bethsaida" is closed captioned for hearing impaired viewers.

Concert by Three Cantors and a Rabbi' delight audience c L •

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A All events held at the JCC unless otherwise indicated. A V "His Jewish Press is not responsible (or the accuracy of the v p above events. To keep calendar accurate or lor questions, E fc call MarteneHert at 334-6437.

COMMERCIAL AUTOMOTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMPANY

8037 H Street Omaha, NE 68127 (402) 593-1242

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From left: concert accompaniest Shirley Schwartz greets Nancy Rips; From left: Rabbi Howard Kutner of Beth concert chairman Israel; Hazzan Erik Contzius of Temple Marvin Parilman; Israel; Cantor Emil Berkovita of Beth El; and and Wendy Rips of Cantor Leo Fettmen of Beth Israel. Videos of Chicago. More than the concert are available for $15. Send check, made 300 attended the out to Beth Israel, to; Marvin Parilman, 12924' recent concert at Izard St., Omaha, NE 68164. Please include phone Beth Israel Orthonumber. Order deadline is July 1. dox Synagogue.

MOUNT SINAI CEMETERY Cemetery and Funeral PreArrangement Planning Available Without Obligation. Morris Kutler 556-3016 Leon Wintroub -: 496-1521

June 20, 1997

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE Member ofthe Union of ',r\' Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 1502 No. 52nd SL, Omaha, NE 68104 55M288 "

Member 0? the tfsiojt* o'^ Am««ica» 7023 Case Street, Omaha, NE 68182 FRIDAY: Shabbat service, 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Azriel, Rabbi Stiel and Hazzan Contzius will officiate. Rabbi Stiel will tell a story for all ages. The Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by the Temple Sisterhood. "Shabbat Comes To You," 3:45 p.m..~Rabbi Azriel and the Temple Youth Group will lead a Shabbat service at Remington Heights. Sitter Service Sitter service is available each Shabbat evening service and the Saturday morning Shabbat service when there is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Please make a reservation. There are no facilities for infants. SATURDAY: Shabbat service, 11:15 ajn. Simcha B'Shabbat-an informal Shabbat service that includes study and discussion of a variety of Jewish texts. The regular Shabbat service,will be held in the sanctuary. ADULT EDUCATION June 28-7:30-8:30 pan., "Beyond Midrash," led by Don Schwartz.

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CONGREGATION ETNA! JESHURUN

'Matthew Solomon Schw. of Carolyn Brody Schwarz and Frank L. Schwarz Jr., will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah Saturday, June 21, at Temple Sinai in Pittsburgh. A seventh-grade student at McKuen School in Pittsburgh, he enjoys computer work, swim^ ming and is in summer camp for the arts. Matthew has a brother, Timothy, 16. Grandparents are Shirley and Alfred W. Brody of Omaha and Ruth and Frank L. Schwarz of Pittsburgh.

Lincoln, NE 68502-2797

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Services are conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyans pn Mondays and Thursdays, 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m. . Oneg Shabbat hosted by Nancy and Charles

BEYTSHALOM An Affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation ; P.O.Box 241130, Omaha, 1*668124-5130 https//www.onwihafreenet;oi^flbevtshal

Services officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. TUESDAY: Adult Education, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Choir practice, 7:30 p.m. FRTOAY: . .Shabbat services at 7:45 p.m.. , , .SATURDAY:,,,, : , .... ::,^^ ... .. ,'.',•.,

Torah study and service, 10 a.m.

SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m.

B'NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

Beth Israel hosts developer of Torah codes seminar ' ;'•

. , Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503,., » : , ,,.. , , 822-4705 . . . . - =.. E-MAIL: docjeb@juno.com .

FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat services, 7:30 p.m., at the synagogue. There will be no services Friday, July 4. We invite everyone to spend a special Shabbat in the home. Religious School is taking pre-registration for the next term, which starts around Labor Day. Contact Dr. Marty Rosenberg at 390-9062 for placement. -—

FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. The discussion topic is "Is Israel becoming a Theocracy?"

25th and Capehart . Omaha, NE

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FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m.

ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, led by Rabbi Maximo Shechet, start at 9 a.m. Members of the community are invited to join residents for services and Kiddish.

CHABAD HOUSE An Affiliate of the Worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch Movement • 11923 Pacific, Omaha, ME 68144 - •,,', ' 697-1124 ^ , <. E-MAIL-diabad@aol.com SATURDAY: Davening starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by KiddiBh. WEDNESDAYS: Talmud classes, 9:30 a.m.; "Hooked on Yiddish" lessons, 7 p.m. THURSDAYS: Advanced Talmud, noon

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Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are conducted by Rabbi Paul Drazen and Cantor Emil Berkovits. FRIDAY: Services, 6 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m. Sitter service, 10 aan. Shabbat Story Time-first and third Saturday at 11 aan. ICtantan—second and fourth Saturday at 11 ajn.. Minha-Ma'ariv and Havdalah services, 8:55 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 9 ajn. WEEKDAYS: Services, 6:55 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

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BETH ELSYNAGOGUE

Member of United Synagogues , of Conservative Judaism 14506 California, Omaha, NE 68154 492-8550 WEB-httpiVomahafreenet.org/bethel

Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. FRD3AY: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 7 p.m. SATURDAY: Services start at 8:45 ajn. Jr. Congregation, 10&0 ajn. Kiddish in honor of Howard Bloom and family.. Pirkei Avos class with Rabbi Kutner, 8:15 pan. at the synagogue. Mincha, 8:45 pan., followed by Shalosh Seudot, Ma'ariv and Havdalah. SUNDAY: Morning service, 9 ajn.; Mincha, 8:40 p.m. WEEKDAYS: . Services at 7 ajn. and 8:40 p.m.

v \ - ' Member of the Union ' of American Hebrew Congregatipns

TfFERETH ISRAEC Member of the United Synagogue , - . .; of Conservative Judaism 3219 SfaerjdanBlvd^liiicobi,NE! 68502

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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PERSONALS

Thank you to my family, friends and clergy for your visits, phone calls, contributions and gifts during my recent hospitalization. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. \ Boggy (Isadore) Bogdanoff

To all. my wonderful friends and family-Many thanks for all of your thoughtful cards, letters, flowers and visits during my recent illness. . Bertha Pessen

•' b y B e t h S h y k e n

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"Iron sharpens iron; scholar, the scholar--" TheTalmud Beth Israel Synagogue is hosting Rabbi Yehudah Silver as Scholar-in-Residence Friday, June 27, through Sunday, June 29. Rabbi Silver is currently Director of Adult Education of Torah Umesorah. He was formerly Director of Education of Project SEED, U.K., an adult education program with over 50 learning centers throughout Great Britain. While in the United Kingdom, he also served as the Principal of the Jewish Secondary Schools Movement, consisting of two high schools and two primary schools! Friday, June 27, Kabbalat Shabbat will be at 7 p.m., followed by a Shabbat dinner at 8 p.m. Rivka Wax is chairwoman. Following dinner, Rabbi Silyer will speak, and an Oneg will be held. Those not attending the dinner are encouraged to come hear Rabbi Silver and enjoy the Oneg at no cost. On Saturday, June 28, Rabbi Silver will deliver the sermon during Shabbat, morning services. Following services, there will be a lunch by reservation only and he will give a Dvar Torah. During Shalos Shudas, open to the community at no charge, he will have a drash. Rabbi Silver has served as lecturer in The Yeshiva of The South and Memphis State University. He was Principal of Jewish Day Schools in Savannah, GA, and Milwaukee, WI, and was Director of Outreach Programming in Aish Hatorah Yeshiva College in Jerusalem, where he designed and developed, the "Discovery" seminar (codes scholars have discovered hidden within the text of the Torah). Rabbi Silver will give an audio visual presentation on Sunday, June 29, in room 10 at the Jewish Community Center; bagels and coffee will be served. Chairmen are Leon and Dani Shrago. For reservations, call the synagogue, 556-6288.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Editorial

June 20,1997

Enough is enough

According to eye-witness accounts, fanatics again attacked worshippers on Shavuot in the plaza in front of the Kotel, the Western Wall. Having stayed awake all night to study, as is the custom on Shavuot, worshippers were preparing to daven Schacharit, the morning service, just after dawn. The worshippers ignored the epithets of "Nazi" occasionally directed at them, but when they began the Torah reading, a crowd rushed at them, shoving, pushing and spitting. The police tried to protect the worshippers, but were outnumbered and begged them to leave. As the group exited the Kotel Plaza, they were pelted with rocks. A Torah scroll was drenched with water and one worshipper's Tallit was stained with excrement thrown from an • open window. At first glance, this seems to be yet another story of harassment of Jews by Islamic extremists; unfortunately, the extremists in this case are Jews. The worshippers were Conservative and Reform Jews who gathered discreetly, net at the Kotel, but in a corner of the Plaza, an area not governed by the rabbi who oversees services in the mechitzah (separate men's and women's section), directly in front of the Wall. Their only "crime" was of men and women praying together, compounded by a woman reading Torah. Under what halachic ruling are Jews, calling themselves "Torah-true" allowed to shove other Jews, throw rocks and excrement at them and damage a Torah? The real crime here is that some Jews think they have a direct pipeline to G-d. As we saw in November of 1995 when Yitzhak Rabi, z"l, was assassinated, we know where fanaticism leads. Rabbi Morey Schwartz, spiritual leader of Kansas City's Orthodox synagogue, Beth Israel Abraham and Volliner, sadly described this scene in his Shavuot sermon last week. Crying for the soul of the Jewish people, Rabbi Schwartz spoke of his yearning for the "days of rabbinic authority" when all the Jews of Israel listened to and respected Rav Kook, z"l, a chief rabbi with a determined, yet compassionate hand who would have never countenanced behavior by his followers like the scene on Shavuot. Where are the "Rav Kooks" today? Why is the government of Israel absent in denouncing the actions of these fanatics? Why did the police ask the worshippers to leave, instead of the rock-throwing troublemakers? We celebrate Shavuot because G-d gave the Jewish people the Torah when we were united, as one people, with one heart, at Sinai. What does He think of the Jewish people now?

Letter to the Editor To the Editor: In light of the recent "anti-BBYO" movement in Omaha, I feel obligated to speak out. From my experiences, BBYO is not just a social youth group of teens who break laws. In my chapter, Mother Chapter, AZA#1, we start meetings with prayer and cover our heads as tradition instructs us. Furthermore, we instituted a new board position called Shaliach, started by Jeff Katzman and now held by Andrew Shefren, to ensure that members are informed of all religious happenings. We've also planned programs incorporating Jewish holidays. Personally I have gained self-confidence, closer friends and most significantly, a Jewish identity that I never developed in Hebrew school or through my Bar Mitzvah. If people are worried about drug and alcohol abuse, do not put the blame on BBYO, because it is against our policies to allow teens to use illegal substances. Teens who abuse will do it, BBYO or no BBYO. • Jay Lewis, past President, AZAftl

Commentary

Israel's TALI schools teach Judaism and tolerance by Kelly Hartog, Special to the JUFNews, Chicago

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In a world where tolerance, understanding, for- ty of Judaism as unique and great," explains ward-thinking, and pluralism are essential to Levine. For many parents, the state religious schools are peaceful co-existence, the Tali school system is a front-runner'in giving those tools to future Israeli too narrow in their world view, and the secular adults without compromising their Jewish tradi- schools all but abandon Jewish studies from a religious angle. Thus, the TALI system apparently tions and heritage. Backstage at the Gerard Behar Theatre in the provides a much-needed remedy for the gap in center of Jerusalem, hordes of kids are slapping on Israeli schooling. • "In the religious school system the content of makeup, wriggling into costume, and dragging scenery onto the bare wooden stage in preparation Jewish studies classes may well be similar," says for their production of The King and I. One of the Levine, "the same Chumash and Mishna, but show's unique aspects is that the children will be where the similarity ends is in the 'how.' We believe in encouraging and questioning, using sharing center stage with many of their parents. With this show, as always a co-operative produc- whatever tools [we have], be they comparative tion encouraging parent/child dynamics, 1997 early literature or working with biblical criticism. marks the 12th year the Prankel Elementary Thereby we give children the understanding that School in French Hill has trod the boards. The throughout the ages there were always problems musicals aren't merely a showcase for the kids to confronting [sacred] texts, and there are always different ways to approach problems. All questions have a bit of fun. The annual spring production provides an impor- that the children ask here are legitimate, which tant educational opportunity for the children to put may not always be the case in the Orthodox system : into practice the skills they've learned in their o f e d u c a t i o n . " ...',. •••••. Teachers who embrace TALI beliefs come from History and Development of the Theater course. The course is unique, the productions one of a kind. varied backgrounds themselves. Most at the The shows draw both school and public attendance. Frankel School have studied Judaism or Biblical Nowhere else in the country does such a program sources at university and have discovered at teachexist. Because the Frankel School is no ordinary ing seminars that the TALI approach is the one they are comfortable with. Many come from tradischool. It is, in fact, a TALI school. TALI is the Hebrew acronym for the tional homes. This year the school has a former Implementation of Judaica studies within the graduate who has returned as a teacher. Although the TALI approach is rooted in Jewish state's secular school system. In 1976, Frankel became the first TALJ school in Israel. With 410 studies, the ideology, explains Levine, is threefoldstudents enrolled in the Frankel Elementary "Zionism, Judaism,, and Modernism" School, 35 in its kindergarten, and 735 in the -hence the spillover into the theater program and Junior and High School in the Talpiot neighbor- other diverse subjects not readily found in mainhood, the TALI system is now well and truly stream Israeli schooling. entrenched in the country's educational agenda. "Our main word is integration," continues Today there are more than 30 TALI schools Levine. "Our ideology encompasses all different throughout Israel. The TALI curriculum and pro- levels of children. We continue to mainstream chilgramming are developed by the TALI Education dren with physical, emotional, and educational disFund (TEF) of the Seminary of Jewish Studies in abilities, kids people label as 'different.' "The school's mainstreaming covers everything Jerusalem, which is connected to the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and the Masorti from children from disadvantaged neighborhoods, to an entire class devoted to children with autism." (Conservative) movement in Israel. Never one to rest on her laurels, Barbara Levine The TALI Education Fund receives funding from the Jewish Agency for Israel, which in 1996 provid- is keen to move forward, ensuring that her pupils retain their Jewish traditions while educating ed a $220,000 grant to the TEF fund. Twenty years ago, the concept of a TALI school them with broad-minded, pluralistic ideas to keep was somewhat controversial, and the Frankel them abreast of the ever-changing secular world. School remained just a dream. Funding was raised Future pilot programs for the school include minigroups to learn the mainly in Detroit, with Internet and the study of a large percentage of tolerance, organic gardening and the proceeds being, In a world where donated by Sam and understanding, faru>urd~think~ agriculture. One of the Jean Frankel, after ing, and pluralism are essen- latest additions to the Frankel School education whom the school is tial to peaceful co-existence, commitment is the new named. Launching this joint the Tali school system in & center for family education supported by the Israeli-American venin giving those Jewish Agency. ture, these few dedicat- front-runner udultn The program offers a ed believers gave the tools to future Israeli of workshops, naysayers a run for without compromising their variety including parent/child then- money. According to Barbara Jewfah traditions and heritage. holiday and Jewish theme workshops, bar/bat mitzLevine, the Frankel • vah ceremonies, and School's principal since , its inception, the Jerusalem municipality said the weekly Torah portion worksheets. ; . Today the TALI school approach is endorsed by whole thing was "an American mishegaa" that wouldn't last. But last it did, clearly going from the Ministry of Education and supported and funded by many, including the Jewish Agency. And as strength to strength. : • , . . . "[Because Israeli] society has become so polar- long as that support continues to grow, as it has ized, it's extremely important that kids be given a done over the last 20 years, the "American mishegood secular and Jewish education, taking into con- gas" could well become ah Israeli triumph. Kelly Hartog is a free-lance journalist living sideration both the modern world and pluralism, ' - - ' v , ' ' - " - ' • ' ^ • • ' • - . y . '.~ • :and authori- in Jerusalem. • while still being aware of the)

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Centers of Excellence of the Federation are: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Education and Library Services, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Senior Services. The Jewish Press (USPS 276620) is published weekly on Friday for $26 per calondar year U.S.; $30 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha, 333 So: 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154; Telephone 402-334-6448;' FAX 402-334-5422; E-mail <3shpre3s@aol.com> . .

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Levinger, Vice President; Lloyd Roitstein, Treasurer; Jane Rips, Secretary; Bob Birt; Cynthia Epstein; Steve Danon; Marti Gallner; Joanie Jacobaon; Sheryl Lee; Fired Mogul; George Schapiro; Howard Silber; Fred Tichauer, Sylvia Wagner. . . Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish Community aa a whole. The Jewish Press reserves • the right to edit letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashruth of any product or establishment. .

June 20,1997 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE Page 5

Community: the forgotten tradition

Picture of beneficiaries emerges months after Swiss fund created

Antidote to disunity: Ethics, humility, history byPaulHaist, reprinted from the Jewish Review, Portland, OR

convinced of the rectitude of their position, Telushkin noted, history reveals that it was Rabbi The author of Words that Hurt, Words that Heal ben Zakkai who may have saved Judaism. "No matter how confidant we are of the truth wants Jews to exercise greater humility, he wants them to take a more balanced view of history and (today), we don't have all the facts," he noted. he wants them to return to Judaism's original Failure to appreciate this is "the sadness of the essences, which he says are more focused on ethics Jewish community." than ritual. Finally, Telushkin suggested that modern Telushkin, the author of many popular books on Judaism's emphasis on ritual, rather than ethics is out of sync with Judaism's Judaism and living Jewishly was the final speaker at the 4<Wof"(iB hfWC C0U8&($U&!lC£t}* roots and that this emphaconference Community: The <u don't intend the < sis is re8 P° nsible for much Forgotten Tradition," which > ^ * " . * Tr^-rwK vrr^ of the acrimonious division was held recently in Eugene % it will, suffered among Jews. and Portland, (OR). " "Somewhere along the In discussing his three antidotes of disunity, Telushkin relied heavily on his ideas concerning line, Judaism became identified with ritual," said ethical speech and the consequences of its alterna- Telushkin, "I say this as an observant Jew. When a person is asked whether they are observant, the tive, lashon Kara or evil speech. The want of humility, the failure to grasp a bal- reply comes in terms of practice." But, he suggestanced perspective on the past and a misunder- ed that it is not about how Jews pray, for example, standing of the essence of Judaism can and do fos- but the direction they choose that is the essence of ter a tendency toward lashon hara and its devas- Judaism. He cited the story of Hillel, who responded to a tating consequences, according to Telushkin. "When we think of the ethics of speech, we usual- would-be convert who wanted to know the whole ly think of it on a personal level," he said, citing the Torah while standing on one leg, " 'What is hateful to you, do not,do to your fellow. The rest is comhurtfulness of vicious gossip, for example. But, he added, "Words, when used irresponsibly, mentary, Go and study.' "I, for one, do not consider it tragic that all Jews can also do great harm to communities." He offered examples: I f you call abortion mur- cannot pray together. I want people to have many der, people will eventually kill doctors who perform ways to pray to G-d...If we put emphasis on the ethical over the ritual, we won't have.the divisive abortions. • "Call Yitzchak Rabin a traitor and eventually fights we have," said Telushkin. Cautioning that Torah is not only about ethics, someone will murder him." Telushkin pointed to American history in which that is is also about ritual, Telushkin again cited the slave culture of the South coined a variety of Hillel and Rabbi Akiva, who he said, "saw ethics as pejorative names for blacks, a key factor in their G-d's command to them." "If we start thinking about these three antidotes dehumanization that enabled their white enslavers (of disunity), we can set the stage for a Jewish to do what they did. . community that is a much more unified one, and a He found a parallel between Southern slave culmuch more unified age." ture and the 1960's phenomenon in which police were labeled "pigs" by the black-power movement in America. Likewise he found parallels in Nazi Germany,'which similarly dehumanized the Jews Turn your sense of style with hugely tragic consequences. into an... ' Telushkin referred to the story of Masada. Rabbi KEN|REgr!ENEURIAL| Yochanen ben Zakkai, who escaped Jerusalem and surrendered to the Romans in the belief that sur• Represent an exclusive render was the only way to save Judaism, was New York designer colreviled by the Zealots he had fled and who later lection • Flexible hours themselves fled to Masada. • Sejl via home trunk showings There they were besieged by the Romans for three years until they, the Zealots, committed suicide rather than surrender. While the Zealots were

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WASHINGTON (JTA) - Five months after Switzerland agreed to establish a memorial fund to benefit needy Holocaust survivors, a picture has begun to emerge of what the actual payments would, look like. The good news: Holocaust survivors may begin receiving checks as early as September. The bad news: Payments may fall short of expectations. Meeting in Jerusalem recently, representatives of the World Jewish Restitution Organization established a committee to report within a month on how. to distribute the fund set up by Switzerland's three leading banks in January. Although the WJRO did not announce any formal decisions about how the fund would be distributed, representatives of the WJRO said privately that eligibility will be determined by objective measures of need, rather than on subjective notions of suffering. The WJRO is headed by World Jewish Congress President Edgar Bronfman and includes the Jewish Agency for Israel and other international Jewish groups. Officials stressed that they do not plan to get into the business of quantifying suffering or engaging in a selection process that distinguishes between survivors of concentration camps, ghettos or those who fled persecution. . The WJRO also agreed that, at least to begin with, the fund should be distributed to individuals. The emerging consensus about the mechanics of distributing the Holocaust fund comes after a series of delays in which both Jewish and Swiss officials accused each other of foot-dragging in appointing members to the Swiss fund council. With contributions from Swiss banks, industrial companies and insurance firms, the Holocaust Memorial Fund now stands at about $120 million. An additional $70 million pledge by the Swiss National Bank is awaiting approval later this year.

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June 20,1097

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Organizations

Local actors featured in Richard II

YES Next YES meeting will be held Monday at the JCC. English class starts at 10 a.m.; bingo and exercise both start at 10:30 a.m. Bring current event articles to share at the "YES Talk" discussion group. Come kick off the summer with an indoor picnic (BBQ chicken with all the fixings). Following lunch at noon, Stan Widman will entertain. Transportation is available by calling 3304272. WALK-IN, DROP-IN There will be no Walk-In, Drop-In Thursday. Members going on the day trip to Winnavegas Casino, please meet at the JCC by 8:30 a.m. The coach bus will depart at 8:45 sharp. RUSSIAN CLUB The Russian Club will meet Friday, June 27. Come exercise with Larisa at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., members will depart for Mahoney State Park. Participants will enjoy a nature film on Nebraska's state parks, tour the park and enjoy a picnic lunch. Cost is $3, and includes transportation and lunch. Make reservations with Margaret by June 25, 3346521. VISIONS Ralston Community Theatre presents the awardwinning musical Fiddler on the Roof Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m. Performance is held at the Ralston Senior High School, 8969 Park Drive. Following the show, it's off to Farmer Brown's Steak House, 83rd and Highway 370 (across from the Sarpy County Court House). Cost per person is $20, and includes show, dinner, tax and gratuity. Transportation is on your own. Space is limited. First come, first served! Reservations must be received by July 1. Sorry no refunds after July 1. Send reservation form to Maurice and Rosalie Meiches, 5036 Parker Street, Omaha, NE 68104 Make check payable to Jewish Senior Services. Visions Summer Membership Luncheon Meeting is Friday, July 18, 12:30 p.m., at Caniglia's Venice Inn. Cost is $6.50. Members will see a performance presented by the Ralston Community Theatre. Don't miss the opportunity to see musical highlights from Fiddler on the Roof by several lead performers. DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP The Divorce Support Group will not meet during the month of July. The group will resume'meeting Wednesday, Aug. 6, 7-8:30 p.m., in room 5 at the Jewish Community Center, and will continue to meet the first Wednesday of each month.

BREADBREAKERS B'nai B'rith Breadbreakers will meet Wednesday at noon at Highland Country Club. Delegates to the District 6/District 2 B'nai B'rith Convention will discuss the meeting. Cost is $7.75 and the event is open to the community. AMIT WOMEN

From left: Rachel Hauben, Susan Guthrie and Sherry Josand Fletcher. An Omaha theater company, Twelfth Night, will present Richard II June 25-29 at 7 p.m. at the Rose Blumkin Theatre for the Performing Arts. Featured in the cast are Sherry Josand Fletcher, Rachel Shukert and Rachel Hauben. The production is directed by Susan Guthrie, who recently directed Anne and Me at the Jewish Community Center. Tickets are $10 for general admission; $8 for seniors/students, and $5 for children under age 12. For reservations, call 551-7830. The play is being produced in conjunction with Shakespeare in the Classroom, an intensive fourday workshop designed for teachers of drama and humanities. The workshop will be at Creighton University June 25-29 and graduate credit is available. For more information, call Sherry Fletcher at 592-4187, or Susan Guthrie at 551-7830.

Michele Jacalyn Zipay, daughter of Diane and John Zipay, recently! graduated from t h e ! University of Nebraska-1 Omaha with a Bachelor! of Science degree in I Criminal Justice and! Psychology. That samel day, she was commis-f sioned into the United I States-Air Force as a[ Second Lieutenant. Michele will spend the! next five months Michele Zipay assigned as special assistant to the Commander of Detachment 470, Assistant Admissions Officer, and Assistant Commandant of Cadets at UNO. In October, she will be stationed at Good Fellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX, where she will become an Intelligence Officer. Michele is a 1993 graduate of Westside High School. She is the granddaughter of Lucille and Jack Epstein of Omaha and John Zipay of St Louis, MO.

The Kalah Franklin and Hatikvah Chapters of Amit Women will host their annual MotherFather-Family-in-Israel banquet this Sunday at Beth Israel Synagogue at 1 p.m. Featured speaker is Rosalind Mprdkofsky, Chairwoman of Amit's National Speakers' Bureau. She has also »> •• J » ,. , , served as Chairwoman Rosalind Mordkofeky o f P u b U c m a t i m s ^

The Columbia TriStar TV Group has named Harry Friedman producer of "Jeopardy!" He will also continue to produce "Wheel of Fortune." Prior to becoming producer of "Wheel," Friedman wrote and produced more than 3,000 segments of "Hollywood Squares," and "The New Hollywood Squares." ' He is a 1964 graduate of Central High School, and brother of Felicia Schrier.

Soviet Jewry and aa president of several local Amit groups. She will be followed on the program by musical entertainment by Howard Gendleman, Donald Gerber; Rabbi Howard Kutner and Dik Weiner. • Couvert is $14 and there will be no solicitations. Reservations may be made by calling Reva Ruderman, 553-6344.

Quality Living Inc., has; selected Deborah Meiches Simpson to receive it's highest honor, the "O'Dorinell Demonstrated Excellence Awaird." Debbie is an RN, BSN, Certified Rehab Registered Nurse at Quality Living Inc. She is the daughter of Maurice and Rosalie Meiches. !'.

Saint Louis Public Schools in St. Louis, MO, has recently named Susan Katzman as Director of Career/Vocational Education, and Linda Riekes as Development Officer. .

Allyson Freeman, daughter of Robert and Robyn Freeman, was honored at the Rotary Club REAL bid 1 ATE CO. of Omaha Annual Honor Roll and Scholarship : TEORTY-NINE FOREVER Members will host a picnic Sunday, June 29, 1- ' Luncheon. She recently graduated from Lewis and Clark Junior High School and will attend Central . 4 p.m., at Chalco Hills recreational area. • For more information, call Tootie Simon at 397- High School as a freshman in the fall. Scholarship Selling OncofaKind...Oneata Tin>e...Slnce 1973! 3616, or Gail Abramson at 333-5415. Chairman was Gary Kaplan.

677-2524 or 391-1700

. June 20, 1997

USY elects officers

NCSY wins awards

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE ft Clour Than...

Page 7

=

Professional and Caring services

Newly-elected officers for Beth El Synagogue's USY Chapter for 1997-98 are, from left: Rachel Katskee and Gila Drazen, Presidents; Courtney Rabb, Social Action/ Tihun Olam Vice-president; Michael Fineman, Programming Vice-president; Sarah Hasslinger, Membership/Kadimah Vice-president; Michelle Hellman, Communications Vice-president; and Mendel Kurland, Religious Education Vice-president. The CMT bus trip to Worlds of Fun has been rescheduled to Sunday, June 22 or June 29. Members will be called.

CD review--

Members of Sr. NCSY include, front: Rachel Eshelman; second row, from left: Tiffany Eisenman, Annelisse Ocanto, Zac Gonsher, Scott Saltzman, Jeff Katzman; back row: Rabbi Allan Gonsher, advisor, Josh Gonsher and Boris Davidson. Members of the Omaha Chapter of National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) received awards at their recent Junior, and Senior Spring Regional Conventions. I Rachel Eshelman and Amanda Mack won the Kesser Torah Award for individuals who've made the greatest strides demonstrating Torah ideals. Jeff Katzman and Scott Saltzman won ih&Hakoras Hatov Award for service above and beyond the call of duty. The Service Citation Award and an NSCY Scholarship for further Jewish education was awarded to Chapter President Boris Davidson. Ben Gonsher and Tiffany Eisenman won the NCSY Junior Service Citation Award for leadership in promoting Jr. NCSY. The Ner Emunah Award was given to Jr. NCSYer Shoshy Shrago. Jr. NCSY won the Chapter Development Award and Sr. NCSY won both the Torah Study Award and Programming Award.

Kletka Red Hijacking (Tzadik) by Max Sparber

Part of the Tzadik label's "Radical Jewish i-'iGulture" series, Kletka Red sounds dangerously like the product of a surly gang of Berlin punks who simultaneously discovered klezmer and their mother's diet pills. This is not for the faint of heart; it's barely for the stout of heart, with traditional Jewish melodies (and a few originals by band leader Leonid. Soybelman) embedded in a sonic mess of electric guitar clanks and feedback shrieks. "I. master only the language of the others," the liner notes inform us, quoting Karl Kraus. "Mine makes out of me what it wants." Indeed, Soybelman appears to be at the mercy of his languages - here represented both by music and

s/eye

Remember the phrase "the art of letter writing?" Or for that matter, do you remember letter writing as it was once practiced? I refer to the time before the telephone took over the exchange of news and information; the time when a person wrote a letter to a friend or relative who lived in another city when wanting to communicate. For some years now, the long distance phone has taken the place of those letters for many people...including me. I'm not sure when it all began, but I distinctly remember when the first of my kids moved away, "my instructions were simple: You will write home once a week, and I will answer each and every letter. For a while it worked, then gradually, Mother Bell's favorite child made its way into our lives. • A long distance call, because "I've been too busy to write this week and Ididn't want you to worry." Yeah. Right. It didn't take long for that kind of call to work into a regular routine, and before we knew it, we weren't writing letters anymore. , ', Now please understand, I love hearing the voice of a loved one on the phone, but I also loved getting letters I could read, savor and maybe read again if I felt like it. So what's my point? Let me remind you that I used the phrase "the art of letter writing" at the outset of this story. My point is simply to tell you the computer has revived the art of letter writing! How? With the practice of e-mail, of course. You know what e-mail is, don't you? People with computers can correspond with other people by

Yiddish, which, in his hands, seems less a means of communication than the spasms and sudden shouts of Tourette's Syndrome. - Noisy, yes (how can three musicians be so noisy?) but also extraordinarily expressive, as with the best punk rock. When Soybelman sneers his way through D'Mame and Seaside, phrasing the Yiddish words as though choking on them, he fuses something new into Jewish music: the old lyricism and passion is there, but now there is also a hopped-up energy and urgency both utterly idiosyncratic and very welcome.

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writing to them electronically. The message gets to the recipient fairly fast, without the expense of long distance calling. The writer can receive a reply, sometimes within a couple of hours, sometimes sooner. It's terrific, as anybody who's hooked on e-mail corresponding can tell you. I "write" to one or.more of my kids daily and two of the four can be counted on to respond promptly. Since I have a printer next to my computer, I'm able to hit a button and their answer is printed instantly. I put it with the regular mail we receive and when my room-mate comes home, he can also enjoy the news from either the east or west coast. On rare occasions, 111 hear from three of them in the same day and when their Dad reads the "letters" he invariably remarks, "I really love e-mail." It's called e-mail because it happens electronically, but you know what? If s letter writing when all is said and done, and ifs a pleasure. Often, people can be heard to make negative remarks about the computer, but anyone who does that isn't enjoying this one of its great benefits. This "gift" isn't only for people in any of our 50 states-let me tell you about a friend of mine in California. ' She tells me she writes (e-mail) every day to her daughter in Russia, who answers promptly as though she was in the next county! Now I ask you....is that a big deal or what? I think I've made my point. The ancient art of letter writing as been revived by electronics and I for . one say hip, hip, hooray! • • Long distances carriers: Eat your hearts out.

V"

Page 8

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

June 20,1997

Author to speak to YJO

Federation Executive search begins

Centenarian celebrates!

by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director

byPamMonsky Federation Communications Director

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Mollie Franklin, left, congratulates Sophie Kaplan on her 100th birthday. Her family and friends hosted a celebration last week at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

What's new in the stacks? Memoirs in the Jewish Federation Library Times Square Rabbi: Finding the Hope in the Lost Kids' Lives, by Yehuda Fine, is the inspiring and captivating account of the author's efforts to help the struggling kids he finds in the heartless street subculture of New York City. Rabbi Fine has spent most of his life working with kids and families as a rabbi, educator and therapist. The book dramatically illustrates how crisis can produce profound transformation, and how one person can make a difference in the lives of others. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother, by James McBride, is a compelling tribute to his white mother. James McBride looks into the face of Ruthie McBride Jordan to uncover his own identity—his humanity-and finds that he is as much the grandchild of an itinerant Jewish rabbi as the child of the all-black Red Hook Projects and that his mother had shared this truth with him decades earlier when she explained that God's spirit is the "color of water." The Sun at Midday: Tales of a Mediterranean Family, by Gini Alhadeff, turns the history of her family, and her own life in it, like a glass ball, examining the presence and auspices of her complex and gifted kin, past and contemporary, and her original and evolving distance from them. The family testimony includes a range of personalities and destinies, and one particularly vivid and harrowing account of the Nazi camps, at one extreme, and the world of the Atmosphere in Alexandria at the other.

Gil Mann, author of How to Get More Out of Be ing A committee made up of a cross section of the Jewish Even Jewish community has begun the search for a new If...., will be Federation Executive Director. Howard Bloom, in Omaha current Director, has accepted the Executive Wednesday, Director position for the New Haven, CT, Jewish June 25, to Federation, and will begin there towards the end speak to of July. YJO memHoward Kooper, Federation President-Elect, bers about said, "It is the intent of the search committee to the findings continue the process until the right person is found ' of his book. for Omaha. In the meantime, we are staffed to conThe continue the business of the Jewish Federation of Omaha." tent of the A sub-committee of the search committee will book is a review all applicants. Qualified candidates will focus on diathen be brought to Omaha to be interviewed by the logue with entire search committee which represents a cross Jews from section of the Omaha Jewish community, accordall parts of ing to Jan Perelman, Assistant Director. Ms. the country Perelman will become Acting Executive Director discussing Aug. 1. their feelMembers of the search committee are: Joel ings about Alperson, Jill Belmont, Anne Broder, Spencer Judaism. Brookstein, Jack Cohen, Bobbie Epstein, Paul • GUMann Tve interEpstein, Sandy Epstein, Jim Farber, Tom FelLman, David Goldberg, Gary Javitch, Sorin Juster, Gloria viewed Jews all over the United States and they all feel their views are unique. They are pleasantly Kaslow, Julee Katzman and Joe Kirshenbaum. Also, Jerry Kohll, Howard Kooper, Forrest surprised to find out how much they have in comKnitter, Bob Kully, Marshall Kushner, Bob Lepp, mon," he said. The complete title of the book is How to Get More Steve Levinger, Barbara Platt, Steve Riekes, Margo Riekes, Jane Rips, Jan Schneiderman, Out of Being Jewish Even If. A. You are not sure Harley Schrager, Marty Shukert, Steve Simon, you believe in God;B. You think going to synagogue is a waste of time; C. You think keeping kosher is Suzanne Singer and Don Yale. stupid; D. You hated Hebrew school, or; D. All of the Above! Mann said the title of the book appeals 'How Will I Die?' to a broad range of people and he has found that An Outreach Presentation on End-of-Life Issues the "issues are the same for affiliated Jews as will be shown on Nebraska ETV Network unafSliated Jews. We have a lot more in common than not." . Wednesday, June 25. The event will be held at Wyndam Hill The presentation will start at 7 p.m. with Family Business: The Survival Factor, and continue with Clubhouse, 9226 Burt Street, and starts at 7 p.m. Whose Death Is It Anyway? Tough Choices for the "This is a terrific opportunity for YJO members' to ask some basic questions in a comfortable enviEnd of Life (Part 1 & 2); Before I Die: Medical Care ronment," said Sandy Lehr, who is chairing the and Personal Choices; FRONTLINE The Kevorkian Verdict; and Death on My Terms: Right or event with her husband, John. Mann said, "You'll be surprised at how much we Privilege. : For resource material on end-of-life issues, write: all have in common. Come and find out!" For reservations, or for more information, call How Will I Die?, Nebraska ETV Network, P.O. Box Sharon Kirshenbaum, YJO Director, at 334-6485. 83111, Lincoln, NE 68501. (Offer expires 7/31/97). Place your baby on his back to sleep...

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June 20,1997

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Introducing... Susan Aizenberg by Martin p. Wolf, Ph.D..

Occupation: Writer, Poet, Editor and university instructor of creative writing and literature Education: B.F.A. University of Nebraska at Omaha; Master of Fine- Arts from Vermont College. , Experience: College teaching, Nebraska ArtistsIn-School/ComSusan Aizenberg munities Program. Poetry Editor, Nebraska Review. Personal: ' r .„ . Married to Jeff Aizenberg: mother of two sons, Christopher, 24, and Aaron, 15. Ms. Aizenberg*s first collection of poems, "Peru" in Take Three: 2, AGN1 New Poets Series, has just been published by Graywolf Press of Saint Paul, MN, and she has just been awarded an Individual Artists Fellowship in Literature by the Nebraska Arts Council. Your publisher, Graywolf Press, describes you as, please don't take offense, "Undiscovered." How do you feel about being "discovered?" I feel very lucky. This is my first collection to be published although I have been publishing poems in journals for about 10 years. You may be interested to know that this series is modeled on a series of books published in the 1950's by Scribners. That series was called Poets of Today. Each volume included three collections by firstbook poets just as Take Three does. Some of those

poets went on to become very well-known. Others, of course, didn't.

collection and like most first books, you tend to start off drawing on the material you know best which tends to be your family and your childhood. In the collection I am working on now, the poems move outward a lot more. You write about historical figures, ideas and different things. That's a traditional pattern for many poets. There is a wonderful poet named Etheridge Knight who passed away not too long ago. He visited UNO when I was a student and said to us that when he thought about our first books, he would think about what an old preacher once said to him, "You have to be confessing before you start professing." I think there is some truth to that.

What were the influences in the earlier years of your life that affected your choice of a career in writing and poetry? As a child I loved to read. I read all the time. I naturally started to write as a result. I remember that from the time I was 10 years old, that was all I wanted to do. There is no other kind of work that gives me the same kind of pleasure writing does. The poet, William Wordswoth, wrote in his Preface to Lyrical Ballads that one of the primary purposes of the poet and artist is to give pleasure to his readers. Do you take that approach? I think a writer's objective is to do the best, most honest work that she or he is capable of doing and to make the poem, story, novel or whatever the writer is trying to do as well written as.possible. Personally, I hope that the readers get pleasure from my work. Absolutely. As a teacher and reader and lover of literature, I believe that one of literature's purposes is to let us walk in each other's shoes and share the human experience.

One of the reviewers of the book describes your writing as having "a take no prisoners attitude." What do you think he means by that? He seemed to be saying it an a complimentary way. I think he means (I really can't speak for him) that he sees in the poems a certain tough honesty and that he believes that I don't pull any punches; Fm pretty direct about things that I write.

You selected poetry as your major vehicle for writing. Why poetry in particular? ' I love poetry. Poetry is, perhaps more than any other genre, particularly about language. It is so radically compressed. Everything in a poem, every bit of punctuation, every space is important. It is language at its most precise. I don't enjoy writing anything else as much as I enjoy writing poetry. It is also what I most like to read.

He also says that you have sympathy for the "bit players and the outcasts" that most contemporary poets do not serve. I write about what moves me, what angers me, what brings me delight, what I think about and. what I care about. I care about the people I write about. Sure! , . . . .

I notice that in your poems you mention your family perhaps more BO than some other writers. In the poems I read, you mentioned your mother and your father and your brother, Michael Did your experiences as a child growing up in your family influence you to a N great extent?. • I think that family, human relationships, are very important to me in my work. This is a first

How.does it feel.to,be a.published author and poet? ' . Given the realities of the publishing world today and the prohibitive costs of publishing a book, Graywolf Press felt that this way of presenting three authors in one publication was a really practical way to do it. I feel immensely lucky. Graywolf is an extremely well-respected literary press. I'm really thrilled.

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i , .. 10 Jewish Press. Omaha, NE June 20,1997

Grossman wins Humanitarian Award (Continued from page 1) He is the retired Regional Manager of Renfield Importers and currently works as the Editor arid Columnist for Beverage Analyst, & liquor industry magazine. He has served on virtually every Federation Center of Excellence board of directors. I~I«»I«»I~I—n

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JTS honors Kripkes (Continued from page 1)

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June 20,1997 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE Page 11

Campaign for prayer amendment begins with tales of 'persecution'

Water in Israel an economic issue Monday-Saturday (Lunch til 2 on Sat)

by Daniel Kurtzman

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WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The Christian Coalition has kicked off a nationwide campaign to build momentum for a school prayer amendment to the Constitution. Gathered at a Capitol Hill rally for what they billed as a "Religious Freedom Celebration,' more than 100 supporters vowed to make a vigorous push for the passage of the so-called "Religious Freedom Amendment," sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK). Their push came as church-state watchdogs continued to deride the measure as unnecessary and dangerous. " "Our goal is to deluge Capitol Hill with over a million petitions, telegrams and phone calls and get a vote on the "Religious Freedom Amendment" to the Constitution before the 1998 election 30 that the American people know where every menber of Congress stands on this issue before they gc to the polls," said Ralph Reed, executive director of the Christian Coalition. • • Istook said his amendment will protect religious expression on public property by putting an] end to 30 years of what he termed wrong-headed court rulings that have "hijacked" the First Amendment. "The First Amendment was intended to be a shield for our religious freedom and our religious liberty," Istook said. "They have taken the shield and they've made it into a sword to attack re igious expression, to censor it, to suppress it.

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Technion professor and students monitor the quality of recycled water in northern Israel's main resevoir. NEW YORK and HAIFA -Israel will not have a water shortage problem if it views water as an economic commodity with a price, according to a study by a Technion-Israel Institute of Technology researcher. It is commonly believed that Israel is threatened by a severe regional water shortage, but through desalination and by diverting water from agriculture to household and municipal use, it can meet the growing demand. "While the cost of water will be higher," said Prof. Benjamin Bental, an economist at Technion, "the issue is one of economics rather than survival." The research was conducted as part of the "Peace in the Middle East" project in cooperation with Tel Aviv University.

Knesset may take final action on conversion bill next month

Poll: U.S. Jews still anxious about anti-Semitism in America

by Naomi Segal

JERUSALEM (JTA)-A controversial conversion bill will be brought before the Knesset for final action this month if no compromise is reached, Israeli Justice Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said The bill passed April 1 in the, first of three' Knesset votes known as readings, and further action was postponed to allow time for a compromise between Orthodox parties and non-Orthodox movements to be negotiated. Passage of the bill, which would cement in law exclusive Orthodox authority over conversions performed in Israel, was a condition of the religious parties when they joined the government coalition a year ago. ' . Indeed, they have threatened to leave the coalition if the bill does not become law. Such a move could force new Israeli elections. Hanegbi's comments, made at.a coalition leadership meeting, appeared designed to pressure the Reform and Conservative movements into concessions. They are outraged over the bill because they believe it would delegitimize their practice of Judaism. Hanegbi blamed the Diaspora Jewish backlash to the bill on its opponents' exaggeration of its impli- • cations and on the government's failure to explain it properly. . The bill, in its present form, would not affect the recognition of conversions performed abroad.

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NEW YORK (JTA) - American Jews have an "ongoing sense of anxiety" about anti-Semitism, according to the results of a new survey by the American Jewish Committee. In fact, a majority of American Jews believe that anti-Semitism is a greater threat to Jewish life in the United States than intermarriage. , But of the 61s percent of respondents who listed anti-Semitism as a greater threat, 82 percent of them were intermarried. Each year, the AJCommittee releases a comprehensive survey of American Jewish attitudes toward a broad range of subjects, including the Israel-Arab peace process and Jewish identity issues. While surveys in recent years have focused heavily on the Middle East peace process, the 1997 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion downplayed its findings in that area. . AJCommittee officials said this year's findings. which include the statistic that 61 percent said they "support' the "Netanyahu government's current handling of the peace negotiations with the Arabs" -- were "taken over by events" in the Middle East. The main finding of the survey is the Jewish perception of .antiSemitism.

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June 20,1997

You can give him a label, or you can give him hope. Wherever you stand on the debate about religious pluralism in Israel, he's not the enemy. Don't make your Omaha Jewish Federation and the UJA the battlefield. Your UJA/Federation Campaign gift is still the best way to rescue the imperiled, care for the vulnerable and strengthen the entire Jewish community; in Omaha and 58 countries world wide. That's what your help does, every single day of the year, for anyone who needs it. Without labels. The Jewish Federation of Omaha (402) 334-8200