NE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE 6 8 5 0 8 - 1 6 5 1
Celebrating More Than 75 Years VoLLXXIV
No. 54
Omaha, NE
Barbara Platt, Sandy Epstein to lead Women's Campaign
B7
YJO presents
'Food For Thought'
by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
Sandy Epstein and Barbara Platt will lead the 1998 Federation Women's Campaign. This will be Platt's second year, and Epstein's first year as chairmen for the UJA/Federatiori Campaign. "A lot of women ask, why should I give a women's gift if my husband makes a gift?" Platt said. "I think that is a very good question. It is every, woman's privilege and responsibility to be seen as an independent member of our community and make her own personal commitment." She continued, "Another important fact about women's giving is that Washington measures support for Israel and for local Jewish needs by the number of givers to our cause! That means your individual gift, in your own name, makes a statement—if we all give separately, it increases our Voice'in Washington." Epstein agrees with her and encourages every woman to make an individual gift to the 1998 Campaign. "A woman's role has been that of educating her family in the tradition of Tzedakah and the responsibilities of being Jewish, "Epstein noted. "As part of that role, we are proud to speak out individually for what we believe in, as an example to our children, family and community. Working as a cochairman on the 1998 Campaign allows me to do' that with clarity and focus."
Dr. Ellen Cannon will speak on the future of Israeli-U.S. relations to Young Jewish Omaha (YJO) members at the Mediterranean Bistro on Sept, 29 at 7 p.m. The program, called "Israeli Food and Food for Thought," is sponsored by the YJO Education _ _, committee and Dr. Cannon chaired by Linda Lachin and Scott Meyerson. Dr. Cannon is a renown national lecturer. She is known as an interactive, dynamic speaker who addresses issues relevant to young Jewish adults. As a national political analyst, she appears regularly on PBS and national radio, and is politicalfeature writer for Crains Chicago Business. "Ellen Cannon has the unique ability to generate a stimulating discussion about ideas and issues that pertain to young Jewish adults," said Co-chair Linda, Lachin. "People who attend this.event will no doubt come away with a new understanding of how events that happen in Israel impact us right here iii Omaha." "This is a terrific opportunity to get some answers to questions about our complex relationship with Israel. Dr. Cannon is an expert of unparalleled caliber, and all YJO members should, take advantage of this program," said Co-chairman Scott Meyerson. ' •' • • - . . . , Space is limited and reservations for the evening are necessary. Cost is $7 per person. For reservations and more information, please contact Sharon Kirshenbaum, YJO Director, 334-6485.
. Barbara Platt . Sandy Epstein The 1998 UJA/Federation Women's Campaign kicks off with a series of mini events facilitated by Karin Levine. The purpose of the mini events is to hold open discussions of the role and responsibility •of Jewish women in Omaha. The mini events are free and-open to every woman in the community. An exhibit of Russian art will feature the designs For more information, please call Sharon of local businessman Sol Parsow an(l Russian-born Kirshehbaum, Women's Staff Associate, 334-6485.- jewelry designer Masha Archer, Sept. 28 - Oct. 10. Parsow is a Russian art collector and dealer who has devoted much of his time discovering Russian artists. Before the fall of the Soviet Union, he helped rescue some of these artists, who had never In conjunction with Omaha Education Week, had their art exposed to Western markets. NCJW, Omaha Section, volunteers will distribute An artist himself, Parsow is the designer of a coldictionaries on Monday to all fourth grade students lection of Russian lacquer boxes, each depicting in ten Omaha Public School elementary schools. one of the famous Faberge Eggs. The boxes are This is a new project for the Section, which is hand-painted with liquid gold and silver in the involved locally and nationally with preparing children for school. According to project chairwoman, Sandy Epstein, by Morris Maline, Editor Emerifus NCJW-members have been working with the . OPS administration to designate schools where The 10th annual Klutznick Symposium, as in the many children do not currently own their dictionar- past, provided Omaha with two days of scholarly ies. The following schools were chosen: Highland, lectures, oriented to "Sacred Text, Secular Times: Belvedere, Marrs, Yates, Indian Hill, Bancroft, The Hebrew Bible in the Modern World." Wakonda, Walnut Hill, Miller Park and Field Club. •Unlike past years, however, the lectures at the The selection and storage of the appropriate dic- Jewish Community Center and at Creighton tionaries was through the assistance of The University earlier this week could well have ushBookworm in Regency, who has also donatedbook- ered in the main event -- an art exhibit organized plates which will recognize NCJW, Omaha Section, by the Klutznick National Jewish Museum in as the donor. Pain Friedlander has acted; as coordi- Washington, D-C. nator between the Section and the local bookstore. The exhibit, entitled "The Binding of Isaac: ' Volunteers spent last week affixing bookplates, Genesis 22 and Its Progeny," is located in the Lied noted Epstein, but are still needed for transporting Education Center for the Arts, 24th and Cass and delivery of the cases of dictionaries to elemen- streets on the Creighton University campus and is tary schools on Monday. ,; open to the public daily through Oct. 3 from noon To volunteer, caUhV at 397^2528 or 677-1986. ? to4p.m. fxeaofcharge. ,
Sioux City synagogue donates Torah to Portland congregation
Sari Telpner, left, and her husband, Asha, hand-carried this Sioux City Torah back to Portland. Doris Rosenthal and Rabbi Jim Sherman helped arranged the transfer. A congregation in Portland, OR, which waited four years for a Torah, now has one of its own. According to Council Bluffs resident Sally Telpner whose daughter, Sari Slater, is a member of the liberal Jewish Renewal congregation, P'nai Or, in Portland, a Torah was finally obtained from the merger of two Sioux City congregations. Due to a dwindling Jewish population in this once-thriving meat-packing town in northwest Iowa, the Reform and Conservative congregations:' merged last year. As part of the>'merger, pne synagogue was sold, the other remodejed. Beth Shalom is now the one remaining synagogue in Sioux City. The Aron haKodesh, which houses the Torahs of the two synagogues, was originally hand-carved by Avraham Shulkin in 1909. A second ark is now oh display in the Jewish Museum in New York City. Shulkin's great-grandson is Jim Sherman, who is Rabbi of the congregation, was instrumental in transferring the Torah. He had learned of P'nai Or*s need through Doris Rosenthal, Marti Telpner Rosenthal's mother (Sari Telpner"s sister). (Continued on page 2)
Sot Parsow exhibits art at Bellevue University
MGJW sponsors Dictionary Day
"Fedoskino" style of translucent painting by Alec.; Shopkin. This particular collection is unique and: has never been shown publicly. ., .•:;:;;;:iu;.'.' Customers of Saks Fifth Avenue and SanFrancisco Opera fans will already be familiar-with-. the work of Masha Archer; Her jewelry -designs won her the Art-to-Wear Designer>by;the.jNEWr. York Fashipn Group in 1985: She ha&aiaa-.eKhibfoj. ed at the Smithsonian and Phoenix ArtMuseun)K-,':i. Another Parsow protege is Oleg Solomaking, who carves 10,000-year-old Woolly Mammoth tusks into (Continued on page 7) .
Unique Klutznick event offers a lingering look He told an estimated audience of 375 that just as prayer and myth have, throughout the history of religion, been its verbal handmaidens, so has art been its visual servant. In a slide lecture of more than an hour, Jie pursued a midrashic path of Biblical events starting with Adam and Eve and focusing on Abraham and Isaac. Leonard J, Greenspoon, chairholder, Klutznick Chair in Jewish .Civilization at Creighton, expressed appreciation for the ovation given to Professor Soltes. Michael Morrison, S.J.President, Creighton University, said that the symposium concept must have fulf^ed the desire of Philip Klutznick to establish an ongoing dialogue between Forrest Krutter, vice president, Jewish Federation of Omaha, said the Omaha communify was grateful to the Khitznicks and to Creighton.