NE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN ME 68508-1651
Celebrating More Than 75 Years VoLIXMV
No. 52
Omaha, NE
Temple Israel celebrates second Synagogue 2000 Identity Day by Michael Walts
Sunday, Sept. 14, marks a special day in the life of the Congregation of Temple Israel. After recently marking the Temple's 125th anniversary (1871-1996), "Synagogue 2000 Identity Day II will be held at 9:30 a.m. at Temple Israel .,. , , . Through a national, trans-denominational program, led by Omaha's own Dr. Ron Wolfson, Temple Israel members, along with 15 other Reform and Conservative congregations across the country, have been looking for ways to make the synagogue a more viable, meaningful, relevant and spiritual place. The process began last December with Synagogue Identity Day I, when congregants met to develop a time line of the history of Temple Israel and its members. Since then, a group of 30 professionals and lay leaders have been meeting bi-weekly to study, learn, share and dream. Now the steering committee is bringing the process back full circle to the congregation. The framework of
the program will be that of Synagogue 2000 committee meetings. We will sing together, pray together, study together and share our thoughts and dreams. The group will review the' concept of Synagogue 2000, update members on progress and assess its successes and goals. The next stage will give the congregation an opportunity to look towards the future and consider what personal needs a synagogue should provide, what talents and resources can be brought to the congregation and what suggestions and ideas can be offered to meet the challenges that face American Jewry in the next century. How do we find religious meaning and relevance in bur busy daily lives. What are some of our diverse con-, cepts of God and how do they fit into our personal lives and our congregational experiences? Members of Temple Israel and the community are invited to attend this, event, if not to find the answers, then to at least help ask the right questions. For more information, contact the Temple Israel office, 556-6536.
ORT members tape history book for special students by Claudia Sherman
Concert p
Mike Milder II Endowment
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H} tAy^:'"'/ f^V-*;-'1' v1 wauace on saxopnone, oi ine nine-piece 1'usion »ana, piayea to a crowd of more than 200 Sunday night at the JCC. The jazz concert, in memory of the late Mike Milder II, raised more than enough funds to create a permanent endowment with the Foundation of the Jewish Federation. Other members of the band (not pictured) include: Bill Bolmeier on drums; Joey Gulizia, percussion; Michael Gurciullo on trumpet; Tim Kobza on guitar; Carl Morton on bass, Jorge Nila, also on saxophone; Mitch Towne on keyboards; and Byron Wood on guitar. The concert was sponsored by Theatre at the' J.'
Dr. Frederick Greenspahn to speak at Klutznick Symposium
at the Jewish Commun- « by Gtoriann Levy, ity Center on Sunday, , Jewish Cultural Arts Director Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D), the with the last presentaonly national non-profit organization serving peoAt first glance, the question "Does Judaism Have tion ending at 5 p.m. An ple who cannot read standard print because of visual, perceptual, or other disabilities, lends a Bible?" is, to use a contemporary slang expres- additional five scholars recorded textbooks to students at schools across the sion, a "no-brainer." Of course, Judaism has a will be talking on the • country. Nancy Engelhart, a special education Bible, the HEBREW Bible, which Christians have ' Creighton campus beginning at 9:30 a.m. on teacher at Omaha Public School's Burke High traditionally called the Old Testament. One of the most exciting things about good scholMonday. School, orders 60 tq 70 tapes a year from RFB&D ars and good scholarship is that they challenge The Sunday evening to serve special education students. long-held perceptions. In this case, Frederick event this year features During the 1996-97 school year, students with a professor at the University of the official opening of an disabilities enrolled in American History classes at Greenspahn, Denver, does just this in the-lead-off presentation art exhibit, "The Binding Dr. Greenspahn Burke High School were not able to use RFB&D of 10th Annual Klutznick Symposium, which of Isaac: Genesis 22 and tapes. "History of the United States" published by willthestart at noon on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Its Progeny," at the lied Education Center for the Houghton Mifflin Company, the textbook used in Arts on the campus of Creighton University. junior American History classes at the high school, Jewish Community Center. While it would not be good, form to reveal anothPreceding gallery tours and a dessert reception is has not yet been recorded. •;.•' er's conclusions, it is a safe bet that Greenspahn's a 7:30 p.m. lecture, "Images from the Bible at the After learning that the history book was not tape recorded, Women's American ORT offered to tape multiple answers to this question will lead audi- End of the Millennium," by Ori Z. Soltes, Director, the book as a community service project over the ence members to think in new ways about the rela- B'nai B'rith Klutznick: National Jewish Museum. tionship between Judaism and the. Bible. And, as For more information on the Klutznick summer months. ; ^: in past years, Greenspahn's paper is sure to elicit Symposium, please feel free to contact Dr. Leonard Thirteen women including Linda Novak, Caryn' lively give-and-take among visiting scholars and Greenspoon at Creighton at 280-2303, or the Rifkin, Carol Nathan, Cindy Shulewitz, Kathy members of the audience. ; Jewish Cultural Arts Council office, at 334-6403. Siref, Fran Coren, Joye Wees, Maureen Strain, Leonard Greenspoon, chairholder of Creighton All activities are free and open to the public. Lesli Shrago, Saundra Dwinell, Beth Michnowski, University's Klutznick Chair in Jewish CivilizaCathy Christensen, and Phyllis.Silberstein record- tion, reminisced about how he and Greenspahn YJO Day at the ZOO ed approximately 600 pages during the summer. first met: "Because of the similarities in our last "The text was very interesting;" said Mrs. ; names, people would come up to me at1 professionYoung Jewish Omaha will meet at the Henry Schulewitz, "and it gives you a good feeling know- al meetings, look at my name tag, and say, "You're • Poorly.Zoo.ihis Sunday, choosing from two ing you're helping someone." : not him.' Finally, I asked someone who they were tours, 11 am. or 1:30 p.m. Lunch is at 12:30 "I'm absolutely thrilled to have these tapes," looking for.... Fred GREENSPAHN, they replied. p.m. For more information, call Sharon responded Mrs. Engelhart. "The volunteers who It turns out the same thing was happening, to Fred. ;; contributed to; this effort will impact innumerable Finally, we met and have become good friends and Kirshenbaurn, 334-6485: students for years ;to come.T close colleagues ever since".,. '•'"• Mission Recruitment meetings ORT. will sponsor a family picnic this Sunday, One of the major-goals of the Klutznick from 1-4 p.m. at the Chalco Hills Recreation Area,' A recruitment meeting, at the home of Rick 8901 South 164 Street. The 1998 Pleasure Pac Symposium is to instill a sense of friendship and and Julee Katzman, is scheduled for Sunday at collegiality not only among the visiting scholars, coupon books will be available for $25, along with but between the scholars and members of Omaha's 7 p.m. for the 'Journey to Celebration, Mission', pre-packaged New Year's cards. Jewish and Creighton communities. This unique to Poland and Israel, March 18-31,1998. Proceeds will support ORTs world-wide network feature has earned the Klutznick Symposium a The 'YJO Hatikvah Mission,1, Feb. 5-15,1998, of vocational and technical schools, including ~ national and international reputation. This is will hold a recruitment meeting Monday, Sept. Jewish day school computer centers in Miami, clearly visible when we notice that this year's visit8,7:30 p.m., at the Wyrjdham Hill Clubhouse. Atlanta and Cleveland. ing scholars come from as far away as Israel and as For more information, contact Julie Stein, 496- close by as Creighton University. For Information about either event, call Lana 9964 or Lesli Shrago, 963-9889. . ^ in the Jewish Federation office, 334-6430. Greonspahn will be joined by five other speakers