WE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE 6 8 5 0 8 - 1 6 5 1
Annual Father's Day and Graduation issue VoLLXXV
No. 37
Omaha, NE
Temple Israel hires Jennifer Blum as cantor Contzius heads for Philadelphia A new graduate of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music has been hired to replace Hazzan Erik Contzius. He is leaving Omaha in June to become the cantor of Reform Congregation KehelletIsrael, Elkins Park, PA, after three years as cantor of Temple Israel. Jennifer Blum graduated HUC-JIR last month, after four years of study, and ' will Jennifer Blum assume her duties in Omaha in July, according to Dr. Larry Roffman, president of Temple Israel. Prior to attending HUC-JIR, Blum graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Music, specializing in music education. She was actively involved with the Hillel House, the University Chorus and Madrigal Ensemble. Prom 1995-97, she served as student cantor at Temple Beth El in South Bend, IN, and is currently the student cantor at Temple Shearith Israel of Ridgefield, CT. "I am eager to become a part of the Temple Israel community," Blum said after her recent investiture as a cantor during ceremonies at HUC-JIR in New York City. "My mission is to bring people closer to Judaism and God; I believe, this can best be achieved through learning about, participating in, listening to, and singing the many different forms of musical expression which are a vital part of our tradition." Rabbi Aryeh Azriel noted Blum's lengthy accomplishments, adding, "We're very excited about her arrival here and look forward to introducing her to our congregation and the community." At its Annual Meeting this Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Temple Israel will honor Rabbi Azriel for ten years of service to the congregation. New officers and ' board members will be installed and volunteers honored. For information, call the office, 556-6536.
Conservative Jews pray at Kotel while ultra-Orthodox rampage in Old City •..'•••,'•; 7
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and Jeff Katzman
Federation Teen Leaders
Amy Willensky The recipients of the 1997 Jewish Federation Teen Leadership Awards are Amy Willensky and Jeffrey Katzman. They will be honored at the Federation's annual meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Willensky, a junior at Millard North High School, was nominated by Temple Israel's Omaha Temple Youth Group, of which she is currently president. She is the daughter of David and And! Willensky. Willerisky's involvement with OTYG has included serving as vice-president ,for Religious and Current Affairs, as a board member, and as'coordinator for High Holiday youth services. : •' Noting that she has been a positive role model for her peers, Rabbi Debbie Stiel also commended Ms. Willensky for her "enthusiasm, creativity, and ability to build a cohesive OTYG board."', OTYG was a winner of 12 awards at the recent MOVTY spring conclave, where Willensky was elected to the regional board as Membership Chairman. Jeffrey Katzman, son of Michael and Carol Katzman, was nominated for the award by the
Jeff Katzman National Conference of Synagogue Youth. During the past four years, Katzman has held NCSY offices such as president, secretary and regional vice-president of Education. He is currently NCSY National Vice-president of Outreach, a position through which he has developed a nationally implemented Study Partner Program and monthly study guide. In addition, he was instrumental in creating a weekly study program for youth in Omaha. Katzman is also a member of AZA#1, where he has •served as religious coordinator, and through which he participated in the March of the Living in 1996. , A recent graduate of Westside High School, he will attend Ohr Samayach's Derech Institute in Jerusalem and then the joint Yeshiva University/Columbia University College of Engineering Program in New York City. Praising his many accomplishments, Allan M. Gonsher said that Katzman is "a Jewish role model who believes in, practices, implements, shares and encourages other to practice Judaism and be Jewish." High School graduation photos on pages 18-19.
Can you identify this picture?
by Shahar Han and Sam) Sockol Ha'aretz correspondents
JERUSALEM (Ha'aretz) - Some 300 Conservative Jews conducted a two-hour mixed prayer service at the Western Wall Sunday, unhindered by police. Several hundred ultra-Orthodox Jews who surrounded the Conservative group, however, yelled insults and hurled objects at them. Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox youth also threw stones at Arabs and attacked their property on then-way home from prayers at the Western Wall. The Conservatives gathered in the eastern corner of the Western Wall parking lot. They were certain they would be removed from the site the moment they began to pray so they opened with two songs. When they began the Shaharit morning prayer, the police surprised them by not reacting. A ring of approximately 100 police officers encircled the worshippers, followed by another ring of several hundred ultra-Orthodox men. Most of the other worshippers in the plaza showed no interest. At first, the ultra-Orthodox confined themselves to yelling noisily and throwing scraps of paper. There were also those who handed out pamphlets to the ultra-Orthodox with a "declaration against violence by the sages of Israel." But the barrage of (Continued on page 2)
This photo of the Trustin Midget Baseball Club was taken in 1941 and pictures Harry Trustin in the second row on the right. The players are unidentified. Anyone who can identify members of the City and State Championship team should call the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, 334-0442.