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Celebrating More Than75 Year$ VoLLXXV
No. 6
30 Tishri, 5758
Omaha, NE
October snowstorm declared 'worst in Omaha's history' Jewish institutions escape major damage
The roof of the sukkah at Beth Israel collapsed under the heavy weight of the snow
and several tree limbs blocked part of their parking lot. Photos by Martin Wolf
October 31,1997
Temple sends delegation to UAHC Biennial Twelve members of Temple Israel are in Dallas to attend the biennial convention of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Women of Reform Judaism. Jane Rips, immediate past-president, is Vicechairman of the Biennial Program Committee. She was installed as Midwest Region President last fall when Temple Israel hosted the region's convention. Debb'i Josephson, installed last spring as President of Midwest Region of Women of Reform Judaism is also on the National Board. • Also attending are: Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Senior Rabbi; Rabbi Debbie Stiel, Associate Rabbi; Dr. Larry Roffman, President; Dr. Michael Walts, Vicepresident; Silvia Roffman, Elyce Azriel, Dorothy Spizman, Executive Director;.Amy Willensky, OTYG President; and Diane Graul, Temple Sisterhood President. Jerry Kaye,.Director of Camp Olin-SanfcRuby and a frequent visitor to Omaha, will give one of two keynote addresses to the gathering. Authors and lecturers Rabbi- Marc Geilman" of Melville, NY, and Rabbi Lawrence Kushner of Sudbury, MA, will aTso'speakoii'This World and theWorld to Come:Two Visions of Adult Jewish Spirituality." Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and author and founder of Moment magazine, Leonard Fein, are on the agenda for Shabbat evening's program.
Jewish Press awarded Newman Grant for internship
A foot of-heavy wet snow, accompanied..byjhigh_;.:_ there's no structural damage to thebuilding."-. winds, caused major damage in Omaha last weekNo damage was reported at Temple Israel; the. The Murray H. and Sharee C. Newman end. More than 200,000 homes and business were last major damage there occurred in 1975 as a Supporting Foundation has awarded the Jewish without power as the temperature dropped to 16 spring tornado virtually demolished the school Press a $250 grant for a student intern to cover degrees overnight. wing. It was more than a year before the congrega* stories of interest to Jewish teens and then- parents. The heaviest damage occurred east of 1-680 tion was able to reoccupy the building. The Jewish Press will match the grant, bringwhere 30 to 50-year-old trees blocked streets and Because Beth El is located in West Omaha where ing the total to $500. The funds will be used to hire downed power lines. Both Beth Israel Synagogue, the damage was less severe, it did hot lose power. a Jewish high school or college student, preferably on North 52nd Street, and Temple Israel, on 69th Some young trees lost branches, but according to with,an interest in journalism, who will write 10and Cass, lost power on Sunday. Temple's power synagogue officials, the damage is minor. 15 stories during 1997 and 1998. was restored by Sunday evening, but power at While the JCC did lose power for part of Sunday, The student intern will cover events in the Beth Israel was not on until Tuesday morning. the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home was able to contin- Jewish community of special interest to teens and "We're concerned about the pipes freezing and ue to operate with back-up generators. The then* families. In addition, he/she will be expected bursting," said Rick Katzman, Beth Israel Judaicathon, sponsored by the Jewish Cultural to research other topics for background information. Contact Editor Carol Katzman, 334-6450, or send President. "But our handyman, Oscar Brand, has Arts Council, was cancelled and will be reschedresumes to the Press office, 333 South 132nd St., been running water to try to prevent that. So far uled for the spring of 1998. Omaha, NE 68154-2198.
Book discussion to satisfy intellects and appetites by Diane Axler Baum
During the next book discussion at the JCC, par- to be Jewish and what it takes to transmit heritage from one generation to another. It ticipants will chew on more than cuts deep about the loss that's suftheir responses to a powerful new fered when Jewishness is allowed to book by Elizabeth Ehrlich. The sesslip away," said Dorothy Kaplan, sion will take place in the assistant librarian at the Federation Federation Library Thursday, Nov. Library. 20, beginning at 1 pm. The library is selling copies of the In Miriam's Kitchen: A Memoir, book at a discounted price of $20. Ehrlich shares her personal redisMarilyn Berman, chairman of the covery of Jewish heritage. The Book Discussion Program, said a few process begins for her when she members of the group will prepare starts cooking lessons with her three of Miriam's recipes for sampling mother-in-law, Miriam, a Holoat the session. caust survivor whose home and On Nov. 7, at 9:30 a.m., the cooks kitchen reflect: the traditions she will gather in the kitchen of the Rose learned as a girl in a Polish village. Blumkin Jewish Home to bake Ehrlich blends stories of Miriam's Miriam's apple cake, mandelbrot life before and after World War n Deirdre Evans (left) (almond bread), and lukshn kigl (noowith 26 of Miriam's traditional erman dle pudding). . Jewish recipes., Co-leaders of the book discussion will be Berman, Taking the reader through'the months of the year, the author skillfully stirs in recollections of who has been active in the group since its incepher own childhood, reflections on motherhood and tion 19 years ago, and Deirdre EvanB, a relatively new member. womanhood, and questions about faith and belief. EvanB 'a known in the community as a co-creator This book makes us think about what it means
of Omaha's Hiddush Levanah, a women's spirituality network. Berman is a former Junior Great Books Leader. "I hope the agenda for our next session will tempt many of our regulars and bring new discussants. We warmly welcome new readers to join us for our sessions. This is a great group, and we look forward to expanding," said Berman. The discussion of Ehrlich's book will introduce Omaha's annual Jewish Book Fair, sponsored by. the Jewish Federation Library in cooperation with numerous Jewish organizations. . The Book Fair will run Wednesday, Dec. 3, to Sunday, Dec. 28,. to celebrate Jewish Book Month. On opening day, Ehrlich will keynote the annual Community Luncheon, one of the most popular events of the fair. Jean Ann Krupinsky, Chairman of the Library Committee, said the Book Fair is an opportunity to purchase games and videos, for children and books of Jewish significance for readers of all ages. "The book fan- is an ideal setting for parents and grandparents to do then- Hanukkah shopping," she said. More information about the Book Discussion Program and the Book Fair is available by calling the Library at 334-6462. :