HE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LIHCOLH HE 6B50B-165X
Serving Nebraska and Western Iowa for more than 75 years VoLLXXVI
No. 10
Omaha, NE
1 Kislev, 5759
November 20,1998
Livingston Foundation pledges $1.5 million to the JCC In response to the appeal for the Campus Building Fund, the Livingston Foundation has announced a pledge of $1.5 million for the creation of a permanent endowment fund for the maintenance and operation of the Jewish Community Center's physical plant. The Foundation will fund this endowment with $125,000 per year for 12 years. This year's contribution will be a part of the trustees' announced plans to distribute $1,000,000 in 1998 as part of its 50th Anniversary observance. "When Tom Fellman and Howard Kooper originally presented the plans for the expansion of the JCC, the trustees understood the need and appreciatedtheir vision for the future," said Bob Kully, Foundation President. "However," he continued, "our concern was where the money would come from for the upkeep of the expanded building if the Center's income is ever insufficient to pay the maintenance and operating costs. The trustees felt that a fund to assure the building will not become a burden on future generations seemed just as important as funds for construction.'' . Pursuant to the Endowment Agreement entered into between the Livingston Foundation and the
Jewish Federation, the fund wilt be invested in perpetuity, and only the income will be used "for the maintenance and operation of the Jewish Community Center's physical plant." "Since much of the building will be new or renovated, maintenance costs should be minimal during the first several years," said Jerry Hoberman, a Foundation Trustee. "As the building gets older and maintenance costs increase, so will the endowment fund. With each annual payment, more income will be available." The original agreement between the Foundation and the Federation provided for a grant of $1,250,000 payable over 10 years, contingent on the Federation raising $3.75 million for, construction, the original estimated cost. As the scope of the project was broadened, and the projected construction costs increased, the Livingston Foundation voluntarily increased its commitment by an additional $250,000 on a matching fund basis, one dollar for each three dollars raised above the $3.75 million, up to $4.5 million. Since this goal has been met, the Foundation's grant will provide the full $1.5 million over 12 years. The Livingston Foundation purchased the present
Another chance at life by JoanX. Marcus
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David, Rachacl and Sara Yomtoob Parichehr and Joe Yomtoob are Jews who were born in Iran. They moved to the United States 32 years ago because they felt this was where Joe could get the best education. They planned their lives around their family. Joe worked as an educator and Parichehr raised the children, Ben, David and Rebecca. The Yomtoobs were proud of their home, their family, and their new life. Today, their son, David, his wife, Sara, and their 16-month-old daughter, Rachael, are living in a small apartment near the University of Nebraska Medical Center awaiting word that a liver has arrived for David's second transplant—another chance at life! Each Shabbat, Parichehr, who is also living in Omaha, goes to Temple Israel to recite a prayer for her son and his family. During her three pregnancies, Parichehr carefully planned her exercise, nutrition and rest in order to be certain that each baby would be as healthy as possible. Her efforts were rewarded with three bright, beautiful toddlers, each with shining black curls and sparkling dark eyes. David had always been in perfect health and constantly on the go. He earned all A's in his sixthgrade classes, was on the baseball team, had a paper route, and was preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. There waB hardly a time when he wasn't
site of the JCC campus in 1971 with a gift of over $317,000. In addition, through a matching grant program, the Foundation contributed ,25% of the cost, $795,000, for the construction of the building. "It is only fitting that the Livingston Foundation continue to play a key role in this present undertaking," sa^d Suzanne Richards Singer, Trustee. Patty and Steve Nogg^and Marcia and Steve Pitlor, Co-chairs of the JCC building fund drive, praised the Livingston Foundation Trustees for their generosity and commitment in providing this important facet of the project to help insure its success. "As has been their custom, the trustees have shown their leadership in supporting the Jewish Federation and the Jewish community," said Howard Kboper, President of the Federation; Tom Fellman, his predecessor, added, "They have shown the same farsighted view of the community's needs as did Milt Livingston." Murray Newman and Stanley Slosburg are also Trustees of the Livingston Foundation. Yale Richards is counsel and Executive Director. This article was written and submitted by Yale Richards and Suzanne Singer.
Michele Phillips to direct JCC Hanukkah Theatre
The JCC Hanukkah' Theatre'progranrwiH take — in motion. He was a bright, healthy1 child. place on Sunday, Dec 13,1 p.m., in the JCC Theatre. In 1981, David was eagerly looking forward to his The program will Bar Mitzvah. It was on March 22 that he approached include Hanukkah his mother and said, "I'm not feeling well, I think I songs by the Beth have a temperature." This was the beginning of a El Synagogue nightmare which, without heroic efforts, could have Youth Choir and ended David's life in about nine months. the Temple Israel The diagnosis of his illness was common flu, and Youth Choir along the doctor provided him with iron tablets for his with choreolow hemoglobin. His mother saw no reason to graphed dances by worry because his eating habits were those of any the JCC Dance teenager. However, the following week, he came Department and home from school complaining that he itched and several short origithat the other children were telling him that his nal Hanukkah eyes looked yellow. plays performed Something was wrong and it was obviously some- by the youth of the I thing more serious than the aftermath of the flu. dz Inn-and stu- " _„. , ... m-.nMichele Phllh s The diagnosis was hepatitis, an infection of the 'denL of the area P liver for which there is no medication. David was religious schools and Day School. forced to stay at home because the disease is so Michele Phillips, who will direct the program, contagious. Parichehr was troubled by the diagnomanages "Take I," a casting service for broadcast^ sis because none of the other children in his class film and print talent. She directs, acts, writes and had contracted hepatitis. ~ . • sings professionally in area theatres and other Since.Davidseemed to be getting sicker, the fam- venuesvHer most current acting credits include ily headed for Chicago for more tests. The tests Parallel Lives and LUV and she recently completindicated a problem with his liver. Following tests ed work on SNAP'S Torch Song Trilogy. by an ophthalmologist, it was suspected that he This past summer, she received a Theatre Arts had Wilson's Disease, a birth defect that prevents the body from properly eliminating copper. The Guild award for her direction of the Omaha precopper accumulates either in the brain or the liver. miere oiLoue, Valour, Compassion. In the fall of 1996, Phillips worked closely with In David's case, it destroyed his liver. Wilson's Disease is a rarity in the United States resident conductor Ernest Richardson to produce because both parents must be carriers. David was the video and spoken audio portions of the, Omaha not to start his treatment until doctors could take a Symphony's Concert for Xputh. She also provided biopsy of his liver. His condition worsened day stage direction for the Symphony's production of after day. His bilirubin, a compound normally Amadeus Unplugged. The program will be- followed by a dessert recepderived from hemoglobin, had risen to 57, the hightion in the JCC gallery, and Hanukkah music with est count physicians had ever seen! In August of 1981, doctors approached Parichehr the "Inspirations"—Anna Mosenkis and Lev and spoke of the possibility of a liver transplant for Shekhtman. Tickets are on sale at member services at the JCC David. At that time, transplants were considered experimental surgery, but David's condition had (334-6426). Cost is $5 for adults; $3 for children. The event is sponsored by the Theatre at the J, worsened, so it was decided he would be taken to Pittsburgh for a possible transplant. Dr. Thomas the Dance and Youth Services Departments of the : \' • Starzl performed the transplant at the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Center. ,. For more information, call 334-6403. . . . (Continued on page 8 )