NE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE £8508
NE 68508
Celebrating More Than 75 Years Vol. LXJOV
No. 50
Omaha, NE
19 Av, 5757
August 22,1997
Two men work to preserve the memorses of the HoBocaust Holocaust survivors sought by local dentist
Actor Kirk Douglas writes his first novel for children by Carol Katzman
This same day in which Editor Emeritus Morris Maline brought in the story on Ben Nachman, a publicity packet arrived. It contained a small novella, 5x8" and only 88 pages long, entitled The Broken Mirror, written by one of America's most beloved actors, Kirk Douglas,. What caught my eye was the yellow flier in the packet announcing that the proceeds from the sale of Douglas' first novel for young people would benefit the Survivor's of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, the same foundation for which Dr. Nachman is conducting video interviews here in Omaha. Established by filmmlaker Steven Spielberg after filming Schindler's List, the project's goal is to videotape eyewitness accounts to the Holocaust and develop the most comprehensive multimedia archive of survivor testimonies ever assembled. Douglas' book is a fictionalized account of one young Jewish boy who survives- the Nazi concenRetired dentist Dr. Ben Nachman hopes to interview people for the next five years, as tration camps, but also experiences the traumatic loss of his family. Once liberated, he rejects his part of an oral history project for the NJHS. faith and is placed into an American Catholic On Yom haShoah, the Jewish people pause to orphanage, only to once again feel alienated and , • commemorate the Holocaust, and the dwindling confused. He changes his name from Moishe to Danny and Photo by Agtnese Callcani IShooting Star number of survivors rightfully wonder who will Actor and author Kirk Douglas remember them once their years on earth have befriends another young orphan named Roy. But a family adopts Roy and the Mother Superior of the Part II of his autobiography, Climbing the ended. , orphanage tells Moishe (now Danny), "Often in life Mountain: My Search for Meaning,tobe published Survivors in Omaha need not have this fear. tk. Ben Nachman, a retired dehfist, is working"' ' we" have;to-put such^-temporal .attachments.aside— n e x t m o n H f . " " ' " ~ " ~~~~: '""""•''. ' '• "'_.'' full-time to record the stories of survivors and and get on with what is important." While working on his autobiography, his creative To a boy who had lost everything in the side was awakened and looked inward to his own make these tape-recorded interviews permanently Holocaust, that answer was very unsatisfying. childhood and loss of religion, coupled with his • available for researchers. He is one of the accredited and trained Moishe stumbles out of the orphanage to finally newfound faith in Judaism. The result is The researchers being guided by the Survivors of the rediscover what he had lost in the camps—his faith Broken Mirror. •Shoah Visual History Foundation, the organization and his heritage-Judaism. A Hollywood legend for more than four decades, Faith has played a large role in the life of Kirk Douglas has more than 80 films to his list of credfounded by motion picture giant Steven Spielberg Douglas, as well. He survived a helicopter crash in its. He earned an Academy Award for Lifetime and supported by scores of companies. Tve done about 50 interviews so far, 35 of which 1991 in which two others died, only to suffer a par- Achievement and was nominated three times for are with survivors in Omaha and Lincoln," he said, alyzing stroke soon after. acting. His autobiography, The Ragman's Son, was He found time, while recovering from the acci- on the New York Times best-seller list for 34 weeks adding that the scope of the project comes to life when one realizes that 33,123 interviews have dent to question the path his own life had taken and was followed by three novels: Dance with the taken place.so far in 39 countries and 22 lan- and to his renewed commitment to Torah study Devil, The Gift and Last Tango in Brooklyn. . and spirituality. He made peace with his son, actor guages. He is now working on a second novel for children, Michael Douglas and recounts these struggles in Kid Heroes of the Bible. (Continued on page 8) by MQiris Maline, Editor Emeritus
Women's Campaign focues on choices by PamMonsky Federation Communications Director
Jewish women are faced with a myriad of choices during their lives. The 1998 UJA/Federation Campaign is addressing that challenge for Omaha . Jewish women with an innovative, new mini-session discussion program facilitated by Karin Levine, a Creighton University educator with a psychology and Judaic Studies background. These mini-sesBions are about choices. Choosing who we're going to be in our own,lives, in pur community and being able to choose a legacy for our children," said Ms. Levine. . Six mini-sessions are scheduled: SEPT. 15, 9:30-11 a.m. at the home of Mary Bernstein and hosted by Janie Murow and Suzanne Singer; and 7:30-9 p.m. at the home of Gail Kohll and hosted by Beth Friedman and Angie Krieger; SEPT. 17, 9:30-11 a.m. at the home of Ellen Slosburg and hosted by Margie Alperson; and 12:30-1:30 p.m. at All Makes Office Equipment and hosted by Amee Zetzinan; SEPT. 22, noon-1 p.m. at Noddle Development, hosted by Susie Noddle; and 7:30-9 p.m. at the home of Phyllis Hoffman and hosted by Maggie Gerber and Susie Mogil.. - The discussions will cover the role and responsibility of Jewish women in this community, current issues in Israel and the Jewish world which influ-
ence us here at home and a look at what we have accomplished with our dollars. . "These sessions are open to every woman in our community, whether they're working on this year's Campaign, or not. Our goal is to broaden our base and reach out to more segments of the Jewish community," said Karen Levine Levine. *We've made these sessions convenient with a variety of options to accommodate busy, schedules," she added. • Levine has a degree in Human Development from Harvard University, a Psychology degree from Washington University, and two years of Rabbinical School from.the Jewish Theological Seminary hi Jerusalem. ~ Federation Interim Executive Director, Jan Perelman, said, "We are very excited to be able to use Karin's skills and we are thrilled that we have her as a valuable resource in our community!" For more information about the Women's Division Mini-Sessions, please call Lana at the Federation office, 334-6430;
'•$*' X
Recruitment begins for Israel 50th anniversary missions by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director
In honor of Israel's 50th anniversary, the Jewish Federation of Omaha will sponsor two missions. The Young Jewish Omaha 'Hatikvah' Mission is Feb. 6-15, 1998, and will be led by Jeff Kirshenbaum, Kathy and John McGauvran and Lisa Platt. The 'Journey to Celebration' Mission will go to both Poland and Israel on March 18-31. Chairmen are Julee and Rick Katzman and Sandy and Stuart Kutler. Alex Fleischer, Oma-1 ha's longtime Israeli guide, will be in OmahL ' Sept. 7-8 to meet with interested parties and talk about what to expect on these missions. "This will be a very exciting time to be in Israel," said Fleischer. "It is really the chanceto be Alex Fleischer a part of the 50th anniversary celebration.. . Recruitment for the 'Celebration' mission will be Sunday, Sept. 7,1 p.m., at the Katzman home. The 'Hatikvah' mission meeting will be Monday, Sept 8,7:30 p.m. at the Wyndam Hill Clubhouse.