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n< Celebrating More Than 75 Years Vol. LXXV
No. 10
NE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE 6 8 5 0 8 - 1 6 5 1
Omaha, NE
by Carol Katzman
Study in Israel certainly seems to be catching on with Omaha's graduating high school students and college juniors and graduates. : Last year, Omaha sent five students to study in men's and women's yeshivot (post high-school religious schools). ThiB year, eight students are in Israel,' including two in the Conservative movement's. Nativ"year-long program and one in the •junior-year-abroad program at Hebrew University. For the first time ever, two recent Nebraska high school graduates, Andi Gutnik of Omaha and Josh Coren of Lincoln, are spending a year in Israel through a Conservative Movement program. This semester the two are. studying courses for college.credit at.Hebrew University in Jerusalem; next semester, the/11 live on Kibbutz Sa'ad, located between Ashkelon arid Beersheya in the Negev. "USY led me here," noted Gutnik. "I have a strong connection to Israel and wanted to explore how to live my life religiously before I went off to v college." :'• She is part of the contingent of 50 North Americans who were active in United Synagogue Youth or Ramah camps movement who are taking a year off between high school and college to learn and.live in Israel. The daughter of Bruce and Margie Gutnik, Andi was a member of the USY Board as well as serving as a representative to USY*s International Convention. .,'. For non-Hebrew, speakers, the Nativ course offera, six Weeks of intensive "ulpdh,.oi".im'inl?rsTon'in Hebrew language, The students live off campus in a four-and-a-half story building with three madrichim,or counselors, : In addition to the ulpah, the two participated in a four-day leadership seminar' in the Negev which, included camping, hiking arid, navigating their way back .to', the base camp. Tiyullim, or field trips, are also part of the year's schedule,
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Some of Omaha's students enjoy a moment of relaxation in J e r u s a l e m , from left: Boris Davidson, Melissa Katzman, Josh Coren,
Andi Gutnik, Stephanie DePorte and Shifra Shrago; not pictured: Sarah Kohll and Bill Shackman. _
Cpren; who/plans"^to attssntf^He'jomfprogram between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, agreed that USY helped influence his decision to attend Nativ. "I like Israel a lot and my parents, (Nancy and Charles Coren of Lincoln) too, had a big influence on me," he noted, "My older sister, Abby, attended Young Judea's year-long course here...my family is very ZJonistic! •}'•.;•' '.•.
"It's so much easier here to be observant," he added. "Before Shabbat, everything closes early and when I go out for Chinese, I know I can get kosher food." , Gutnik, however, found it more difficult to be observant in Israel. "I know someone else will go to services if I decide to sleep in," she said. "In Omaha, I know I ' • (Continued on page 11)
B'nai B'rifh receives rights to seBS new Faberge egg
to be performed at the JCC by Gloriann Levy, Jewish Cultural Arts Council Director
"A Symbol of Hauben has appeared Hanukkah," written by onstage at the Emmy Cara. Freedman and Gifford Children's adapted and directed by Theatre and for Twelfth Rachel Hauben, former Night the Theatre Theatre Director at the Company. She is curJewish Community rently Development and Center, will be perPublicity Coordinator formed at the JCC for the Nebraska Theatre, one day only, Theatre Caravan, proon Sunday, Dec. 14, at fessional touring wing 2 p.m. Tickets are: of the Omaha Comadults, $5; children munity Playhouse. under 12, $3, and are Hauben has consideravailable at Member able teaching experiRachel Hauben Services, 334-6426. ence. She is listed as an More than 50 children will partici- Artist-in-Residence with the pate, representing all the synagogues, Nebraska Arts Council. Local teachthe JCC Youth Services Department, ing' experience includes Performing the JCC Dance Department and the Arts Academy classes for the Omaha Theatre Company for Young People Friedel Jewish Academy. . Rachel Hauben is a professionally and Creative Drama classes for chiltrained actress with a BFA in Acting dren in the JCC Before and After ' from the Acting Conservatory program School Care program: In addition, she wrote, directed and at SUNY PURCHASE. She joined the Blue Born Theatre in 1991, where she coordinated the annual JCC was both a performer and Co-Artistic Hanukkah show in 1995 and 1996. Director. She had leading roles in sevThe Hanukiah performance is eral productions including Ficky underwritten by grants' from the Stingers, Frankie & Johnny in the Mort Richards Fund and the Clair de Lune, Death & the Warden Nebraska Arts Council. arid The Complete Works of William For more information, call 334Shakespeare (abridged). 6403.
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Collectors of the famed Faberge eggs can add a new one to their collection: "Egg of the Covenant." The St. Petersburg Collection and Theo Faberge, grandson of the legendary jeweler Carl Peter Faberge, have entered into a special partnership with B'nai B'rjth, granting the organization'; the exclusive distribution in Washington, D.C, for this latest creation. Admirers of the creations have an opportunity to own one of these precious works and at the same time, support the work of B'nai B'rith. As a tribute to the link between the
"Egg of the Covenant" and B'nai B'rith (which in Hebrew means Children of the Covenant), B'nai B'rith has been authorized to serve as a partner in promoting the sale of the Egg. The "Egg" is available at the B'nai B'rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum Shop, through its website, and also has the rights to sell the other eggs in the collection. .'••• To order, call Beverly Meyerson, B'nai B'rith Museum Shop Director at (202) 857-6608, or order from the website: http://bnalbritli.org.