Serving Nebraska and Eastern Iowa for more than 75 VoLLXXV
No.44
NE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE 6 8 5 0 8 - 1 6 5 1
Omaha, NE
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and Zayde with LOVE.. / -filled family affair by Bert Lewis
Mother and daughter team Ann Belmont (left), and Marlene Sukiennik are chairing the event to recognize grandparents.
LOVE co-chairmen Patty Nogg (left), meets with Joanie Jacobson, who wrote and is directing "The Magic of Mishpocha."
According to the calendar, Grandparents Day is Sunday, Sept. 13. However, the leadership of the League Offering Volunteers to the Elderly have changed that to Sunday, Aug. 30, this year. Patty Nogg, who with husband, Steve, is. co-chair of LOVE, has announced plans for a festive day of inter-generational celebration of our Bubbes and Zaydes called To Bubbe and Zayde with Love..." a fulfilled family affair. .-••••— r——-*~~-V-T-, '
Mrs. Nogg explained that the event, planned for the last Sunday in August at the Jewish Community Center, will be a double affair. First, a gala recognition of the grandparents of the community and their impact on everyone whose lives they have touched. ; Second, is the opportunity to remind everyone what LOVE is all about and what it's doing. •; (Continued on page 6) . ..
uuiy « , 1998
"Your contribution to the Building Fund could put us over the top!" Howard Kooper, Federation President
Building a Jewish Community forthe 21st Century less than $1 million away from goal! (See story on page 7)
Beth Israel to honor Gonshers by Caroj Katzman
For their many years of service to the synagogue and the Jewish community, Rabbi Allan and Rini Gonsher will be honored at a Shabbat dinner, Friday, Aug. 7 at 7 pan. at Beth Israel Synagogue. The dinner is one of several events during the Summer Enrichment Educational Program (SEED), slated from July 30 through Aug. 12, according to its chairman,'Bob Oberman. A Shabbat dinner for contributors is Friday, July 31, and two community Shabbat luncheons are scheduled on consecutive Saturdays, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. In addition, nightly lectures and one-on-one cftewriisa-style learning will be taught by Rabbi and Mrs. Yehuda Brecher, Rabbi and Mrs. Ghezky Schuck and two students from Yeshiva Chaim Perlin in Brooklyn, N.Y. "The Gorishers have helped create an atmosphere of enthusiasm for Jewish education and Torah observance In Omaha," said Rabbi Howard Kutner, spiritual leader of Beth Israel Synagogue."Allan has initiated, numerous Torah learning projects for our youth and the Gonsher home has always been open for Shabbos and Yom Tovim hospitality for countless numbers of those in need of a place to stay." The Gonshers arrived in Omaha 18 years ago when Jewish Family Service offered him the position of Executive Director. He served in that position for six year's and then, in 1985, opened his own' counseling and therapy clinic, Kid's Inc., serving families with children under age 12. Arriving in Omaha with two young sons, the Gonshers immediately became involved in Jewish community life. As members of both Beth Israel and Beth El Synagogues, they read Torah, led services, (including Jr. Congregation) and actively supported Jewish education in Omaha. When their oldest son, Josh, entered fifth grade, Allan decided that Omaha needed to reinvigorate the old SYO (Synagogue Youth Organization) and
was there for more than 30 years. I've tried,to emulate my grandparents, to live the kind of observant lifestyle they led." ,• The Gonshers met in Israel while both were students and later returned to continue their Jewish studies. Their firstborn, Josh, now 21, was born there. He's currently a student at Queens College and Torah.Mitzion in New York. '.' v - • In addition to earning B.A. degrees at both the California State University at Northridge and the University of Judaism, Allan went on to receive rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary and an M.A. in social work from Columbia University. A member of the Rabbinical Assembly of America and the Academy of Certified Social Workers, he is also a published author of Tips for Kids, From Kids, and Popcorn Walk in 101 Play Therapy Techniques. His short volume for the general public, An Allowance is Not a Bribe, will shortly be published by Jason Aronson as a larger volume geared to i'and Allan Gonsher (seated) are the par- Jewish families. • ents of three sons, from left: Ben, 18, Zack, 16, "We have taken the journey together," Rini said and Josh, 20. about her 26-year marriage to' Allan. "We disagree, start a chapter of NCSY, National Conference of we compromise, and we are lucky and proud to have Synagogue Youth, the Orthodox movement's youth three committed Jewish sons."' group. For the' past 10 years, he has served as vol- Ben, 18, who recently graduated from the Yeshiva unteer director of both Jr. and Sr. NCSY in of the South in Memphis, will spend a year in Israel Omaha. With their home open to Jewish teens at Derech Eitz Chaim Yeshiva. Zack, 16, just left for looking for a rich, Jewish experience, the Gonshers JOLT, a six-week trip to Poland, Russia and Israel, have used NCSY and Shabbat as a model for living sponsored by NCSY. After returning from this Jewishlives. Jewish Overseas Leadership Training, he will be a "Parents instill the values of Judaism," said senior at Central High School. Rabbi Gonsher, "We further it. For 18 years, Allan served on the Board of "We both grew up in traditional Jewish homes, Directors of the Friedel Jewish Academy and Rini where Shabbos and holidays were an integral part taught Jewish Studies and Hebrew there. All three of our neshamas (souls),* he continued, "I want oth- sons graduated from FJA. , ers to experience what a Jewish household is like." "We have a commitment to this community and Rini added, "My.grandfather was the first cantor at the first Conservative shul in Cincinnati. And he (Continued on page 11)