SPECIAL ISSUE ON EDUCATION NE MIST SOCXW-Y,
J500 R ST LINCOLN RE
VoLLXXV
No. 7
68508-1651
7 Cheshvan, 5758 November 7,1997
Omaha, NE
rabbinical school For the first time in recent memory, four young Omahans are enrolled in three different rabbinical schools, two on the West Coast and two in New York. Though other rabbis have emerged from Omaha, notably Rabbi John Spitzer of Canton, OH, and Rabbi Rex Perimeter of Baltimore (both of whom grew up at Temple Israel), it is the first tame Omaha has been able to boast of four students at one time. •; : Dan Felhnan is a second-year student and Jason . Pereiman just started at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. In New York, Mordy Schwartz attends Mordy Schwartz Josh Zweiback. the Jewish Theological Seminary and Josh Zweiback While his visit is also an opportunity to spend time will receive rabbinical ordination in June from the with his. family, parents Eugene"and Hermene Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Zweiback, and his aunt, Judy Zweiback, it has also given him the pulpit experience. He was featured in last April's Passover edition of the Jewish Press and stated then, "My decision to enroll in the master's program in Jewish education is a direct result of my work with Ann (Kibel Schwartz, Temple's Education Director, who also happens to be the mother of one of the four rabbini-. cal students, Mordy Schwartz). "The Temple staff let me make mistakes," he continued, "and I learn from them. Most of all, they...are true mencheS." .--' Dan Fellman, spin of Dick and Beverly Fellman, echoes that sentiment.'' ' /: .":.'.'•.•:-'.
"My father and'•! had coWtleBS conversations, Uyja1»/atnj^tiJ^eiipted j 1 / t j ^ t " J ^ t d;i .9boutthe^rab-r "btth^b . I spent time with Vabbis and realized more Uanl'eiiman Jason Pereiman and more that I really want to be a rabbi.. While all the students come from varying degrees "Rabbi Paul Drazen (of Beth El Synagogue) has of religious observance and educational back- been particularly'influential," he continued, "He grounds, they all agreed on one thing-growing up and I study together and I shadowed him from time in Omaha influenced their decisions to enter rab- to tune," binical school. Fellman also learned with Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of Josh Zweiback was in Omaha during the recent Temple Israel and with Rabbi Richard Freund, Jewish holidays and assisted at Temple Israel dur- Professor of Religion at the University of Nebraska ing services as he has for the last several years. at Omaha. , . :
National Yiddish Book Center's founder to speak during Jewish Book Month by Diane Axler Baunr
Lanskjy, recipient of numerous awards and recogThe founder of the National Yiddish Book Center, nitions.for his practical work on behalf of Yiddish whose mission is "to save and make sense of a culture, was named a MacArthur Fellow in 1989. missing millennium of Jewish history," will One of America's highest honors, better known as keynote both the Jewish Book Fair and Kalian a "Genius Grant," the $225,000 award has enabled Weekend Dec. 6 to 7. ~ him to continue his history-maki1 -t «•, Aaron Lansky will present ' ing work in the United StateB and four lectures and a slide around the world. show focusing on his worldIt was in 1980, at the age of 24, wide efforts to retrieve, recirthat Lansky established a nonculate and reinterpret book • profit organization for the preserprinted in Yiddish. These vation and revitalization of efforts, he proclaims, a n Yiddish culture. This center is intended to "salvage a van now recognized as the fastest ishing culture. growing Jewish cultural organizaEunice Denenberg, chairi tion in America. man of this year's Kallali \ A native of New Bedford, MA, Weekend, attended th'Lansky holds a B.A. in Modern Oxford Institute for Yiddish Jewish History from Hampshire studies, in England, and last College;, an M.A. in East July she visited the Nations 1 European Jewish Studies from Alu ,„, l j l t l s l l v . Yiddish Book Center's new McGill University; and is a grad$8 million facility in Amherst, MA. uate of the Uriel Weinreich Yiddish Program at Tmfrom the generation whoBe immigrant par- Columbia University. ents considered Yiddish their mamaloshen (Mother Co-sponsoring Lansky's appearances are.the Tongue)) but wanted their children to be Jewish Federation Library and the Jewish Americans, which meant English only,".Bhe noted. Cultural Arts Council in conjunction with the "Now, many of us who understand or speak even a Lifelong Jewish Learning Committee of the Jewish bissel (little bit) Yiddish regret not having learned Education and Library Services. that rich, expressive voice of our childhood homes." The programs, which are underwritten in part by "Aaron Lansky's vision and perseverance steered the Mort Richards Fund, are free and open to the the National Yiddish Book Center to its current public. success, and our community is fortunate to have For more information, call JCAC Director several opportunities to hear and meet this charis- Gloriann Levy at 334-6403, or Federation Library matic personality,* Denenberg added. Director Edythe Wolf at 334-6461.
Jason Pereiman credits his family, Sheldon and Jan Pereiman, and his mother's work, first as Women's Campaign and Missions Director and now as Interim Executive Director of the Jewish Federation. .; • , "Being in the presence of my mom's passion and fervor as a: Zionist has opened up my eyes to the beauty and struggles of the State of Israel and our needs as Jews for the Jewish homeland," he stated recently. "I even considered moving there and that was the ultimate determinant in pursuing the rabbinate." Pereiman spent two years studying in Israel, first at Livnot L'Hibanot and then at the Pardes Institute, a liberal yeshiva. Zweiback also studied in Israel, as part of the HUC-JIR program, as did Mordy Schwartz, when he enrolled at JTSl Mordy, son of Don and Ann Schwartz, grew up at Beth Israel and graduated from the Friedel Jewish Academy. His family switched to Temple Israel when MB mother became Education Director there 10 years ago. He considers himself observant and egalitarian. When in Omaha, he often spends Shabbat with friends Rini and Allan Gonsher, in a home that is often; filled with men and women debating issues in the Talmud.as often as they discuss everyday subjects. Rabbi Gonsher has encouraged Schwartz in his Jewish studies. .. Learning, for the sake of learning, is a high priority for alj thesei ypungjmen,.though/they;ackriowlr • edgethVmfficulities:) ;^ •>v*'- ••':!vr?' '''••'•:::'"-'r -.. V "While my Hebiew is much improved," Fellman admitted, "I find the task difficult" Pereiman agreed, "The most frustrating thing is Hebrew. It still looks like Chinese to me. "The process Of learning, in my opinion, is the most exciting pursuit one can undertake. As. Jews, we are obligated to question, debate, struggle and question some more. '••••., .
(Continued on page 2)
Walk through Jerusalem by Susan A. Drazen Jewish Educational & Library Services
In anticipation and celebration of the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel, Jerusalem is coming to Omaha. • ' ; From March 8 to April 8,1998, a hands-on multimedia exhibit entitled "Walk through Jerusalem'' will be on display in the JCC Gallery. The exhibit was created by the Boston Bureau of Jewish Education and has been exhibited throughout the United States. "Travelers" will stroll through archways of the Old- City's eight gates of entry into rooms dedicated to different themes, such as archaeology^ geography and religion. While Israeli music plays in the background, participants will be able to: • examine photographs, maps, slide and video shows of Jerusalem. ' • play games and keep a diary of their journeys. • interact with items on display, whether by making a crayon rubbing of flat artifacts or hearing the city's three major religions'call to prayer. The goal of the exhibit is to enable visitors to learn about the diversity of Jerusalem, to love the city and to have a.connection to it. It is designed to • accommodate school group's as well as families and community members. Study guides will be available to visitors^ [•'••' • Partial funding for the program has been provided through the generosity of the Esther K. Newman Grants Committee. f ."
A recruitment meeting for the Federation Mission to Poland and Israal, March 18-31, is Wodnoaday, Nov. 19,7:30 p.m., at the home of Anne Broder. For Information, call 334-6430.