NE
&8508
1500 R ST INCOLN HE 68508
Celebrating More Than 75 Years VoLLXXIV
No. 41
15 Sivan, 570/
Omaha, NE
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) -