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Serving Nebraska and Eastern Iowa for more than 75 Years VoLLXXVI
No. 5
26 Tishrei, 5759 ,
Omaha, NE
October 16,1998
Omahans to atferid UJA/OJF General Assembly in Jerusalem by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
such a great group and having a wonderful experience. All .my life, I've none other. This year, been hearing about how it's in Jerusalem, in celeimportant Israel is to the bration of the State's Jewish people, and I 60th anniversary.. ; • want to experience it Representing Omaha . - • • • • firsthand!" at this annual meeting, The theme of this sponsored by United year's GA is "Many peoJewish Appeal and the ple, many roads, one Council of Jewish Fedheart." The four-day erations are: Joel Alpermeeting will kick off son, Pacesetter Division with a gala celebration of Chairman; Bob BelIsrael's 50 years of grade, 1998 Justin achievement, led by Greenberg Young LeadIsraeli and American ership Award winner; entertainers. Sara Juster, 1997 Lois Topics for discussions Jeanne Schrager Young -Natalia will center on the conLeadership Award winnections between Israeli ner; Forrest Krutter, and North American Jewish Federation ViceJews, seeing the propresident; and Mark grams and meeting the Sanford, Jewish Compeople that Omaha's munity Center P r e s i - O m a h a i s p a i r e d w i t h the W e s tern Galilee through dent the Midwest Consortium's Partnership 2000. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Israel allocation have been supporting, (those Both Alperson and Krutter will arrive in Marty Ricks, Foundation Director; and Bob funds are then forwarded to the UJA). Jerusalem from the Chazak_ YoungvLeadership_ Wolfsorlj-ADL-CRC Executive Director. Also on the_agenda will be the role of philanMission in Eastern Europe. In addition "to attending worKsKopsattheGA, thropy, the peace process, the future of .Professionals attending the GA are: Barbara Gottlieb, Jewish Senior Services Executive participants will also spend a day in the Western Israel/Diaspora relations, and Jewish identity and education. Director; Carol Katzman, Jewish Press Editor; Galilee, Omaha's Partnership 2000 region. The GA will close at the Knesset, Israel's parliaThis will be Bob Belgrade's first trip to Israel Julee Katzman, Federation Executive Assistant; ment, with Jewish leaders from around the world. and he noted he is "looking forward to going with Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director; The UJA/CJF General
Assembly win be like Western
Galilee
Klutznick speakers present diverse visions of Israel by Leonard Greenspoon
This year's KJutznick Symposium, scheduled for Nov. 1-2, features more than a dozen speakers who will present a rich and varied portrait of the Land of Israel, from ancient to contemporary times. Coming from as far away as London, England, the presenters are all experts in their respective fields and experienced in conveying their ideas to the interested, general public. Beginning just after noon on Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Jewish Community Center, Professor Thomas Idinopulos of Miami University will explore how Israel was viewed by devout Christian millenarians who linked the restoration of the Jews to Israel with, the second coming of Jesus. No ivory tower thinkers, these Englishmen had a decisive influence on British policy when the English ruled the Holy Land after World War I. Idinopulos will be followed by Omaha's own Murray Frost, an internationally recognized expert on the stamps of Israel. Dr. Frostwill make use of his philatelic expertise to analyze images of Israel on its own stamps and the generally negative portrayal of Israel on stamps produced in Arab lands. Colin Shindler, a prolific writer and lecturer from London, England, leads off Sunday's second ses-. sion, which begins at 2 p.m. The title of his presentation,The View from the Right: Power, Politics, and Ideology from Jabotinsky to Netanyahu," gives a clear idea of the topics and ideas he will discuss. Shindler will make use of his extensive research on Israeli politics to help us better understand characteristic, beliefs and actions of important and still influential figures including Menachem Begin and Avraham Stern, in addition to the individuals mentioned in his title. • An expert on the religion and culture of classical
Islam, Brannon Wheeler from the University of Images of Israel from Without and Within." Washington will explore with us the ways in which UNO Professor Joel Gordon will look at how Muslim thinkers have understood key moments in Egyptian films portray Israel and Israelis in a prethe life of Abraham and the divine promises of sentation titled, "Israel in Egypt: Reel Images from inheritance that guided his life. Not surprisingly, across the Border." the Koran presents claims at variance with tradiOri Soltes, a popular Klutznick presenter from tional Jewish and Christian biblical interpretation. 1996 and 1997, will explore the diverse images The final session on Sunday, which begins at Israelis have of themselves in his presentation, 3:30 p.m., features presentations on two artists "Israeli Art as. Jewish Art; Israel Art as Political who were extremely influential in shaping images Art." Soltes recently stepped down as director of of Zionism, Zionists and the Zionist goal — Jews liv- the B'nai B'rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. ing in the Land of Israel. A dessert reception follows these talks. Boston artist and art historian Elisabeth Keil, in her slide-illustrated lecture, presents the work of On Monday morning, the Klutznick Symposium E. M. Lilien, the creator of many popular images of shifts to Creightonj Zionism and its leader, Theodore Herzl. Lilien was University's Student [ also one of the founders of Bezalel, the Academy of Center. Beginning j Fine Arts and Crafts, that continues to function to 8:30 a.m., an additional this day in Jerusalem. * ~'I7>-'" T . . 7 T " ' six speakers continue to explore the variety and .Lilien's near contemrichness that accompany porary, Herman Struck, I visions of Israel. is the 'Subject ofProfessor Michael Berk-1 Archaeologist Rami' owitz's talk. Berkowitz, | Arav will begin the day' who recently took an with a fascinating dis-j academic position at j cussion of the complex *** University College, Loninteraction between ide- don; presents Struck as j ology and archaeology'—:> •" ---•j~ —','Bami Arov an individual who that has existed for over uniquely blended Orthoseven decades in Israel. He will illustrate the dox Judaism with great I changing nature of this intense relationship by artistic talent, Zionism, f looking at selected sites and archaeologists, espeand the empathy of a cially Yigael Yadin. Archaeological sites are among' Elisabeth Keil free-thinker. Struck's the most frequently visited and photographed desworks will be amply illustrated through slides. tinations for tourists to Israel, especially for The Symposium continues on Sunday evening at American Jews on missions. 7 p.m. Two keynote speakers'are featured in a program titled "Visions/Versions: Contemporary (Continued on page 12)