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VOLLXXVI
No.. 11
8 Kislev, 5759... -i~.«V»^
Omaha, NE
; November 27,1998 .
Building a Jewish Community for the 21st Century
Ceremonial groundbreaking set for December 11 The Jewish Federation of Omaha has announced that the groundbreaking for the rejuvenation of the Jewish Community Center will be held Friday, Dec 11, at 11 am.., in the JCC Gallery. "All members of the community and the JCC are invited to attend this exciting event," said Patty Nbgg, who, along with her husband, Steve, and Marcia and Steve Pitlor, are co-chairmen for the building project. "It's incredible that we have reached this point and this exciting project has really energized this community." Included in the program for the groundbreaking will be Tom Fellman and Howard Kooper, who have been the pivotal force behind the project, Rabbi Myer Kripke, who will deliver the D'var
Torah, the Noggs and the Pitlors, JCC President Mark Sanford, and music by the children of the Child Development Center. A reception will follow the program. • Nearly $6,3 million has already been paid or pledged for the project, with some $2.3 million in anticipated gifts still to .come, bringing the project's total to $8.7 million. In addition, the Livingston Foundation announced a $1.5 million endowment to offset future increases in operations for the expanded JCC. Contributions to the Building Project are still needed and are being accepted by ' the Noggs at 493-3479, the Pitlors at 496-4632, Howard Kooper and Tom Fellman at 392-1800, or the Federation office at 334-8200.
Omaha's young leaders make an impact at the G.A.
A kindergarten for new immigrants to Israel from Ethiopia welcomed members of the Midwest Consortium for our Partnership 2000 region in the Western Galilee. Bob Belgrade and Mark Sanford enjoyed the opportunity to visit with some of the 500 children in the 16 kindergarten classes on the Mediterranean coast. Afore G.A.stories andphotos on page 14.
Building a Jewish Community for the 21st Century
I OurQoal = $8.75 Million i Raised to date $6,275 Million
Hadassah to honor Ervin Simon Ervin Simon, Chairman of the Hadassah Associates Committee of| the Omaha Chapter of Hadassah, will be honored on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the 1 p.m. preHanukkah party at the Wytidham ' Manor Clubhouse, 93rd and BurtSt. This year, Simon has enrolled the largest class of Hadassah husbands, * /COfathers, sons and grand-1 sons since the inception Ervin Simon of the "for men only* program. More than 100 men are now "Associates," with the funding from membership fees being used to support Hadassah's Medical work in Israel. Headlining the musical program will be Dr. Michael Yampolsky, vocalist, accompanied by Dr. Howard Gendelman at the piano and Dik Weiner on the drums. A pre-Hanukkah "reception of sweets" will follow the program. Men who wish to become Associates at $200 each are invited to come to the party or call Simon at 330-5811. There will be no solicitation of funds at the party.
Allan Gonsher andOmaha's Yachad youth group honored by the Orthodox Union Omaha resident Allan Gonsher was presented with the Betty Solnica Chesed Award by the National Jewish Council for the Disabled (NJCD) at the recent Yachad dinner in New York City. Yachad is the Orthodox Union's program for the developmentally disabled. • As lay chairperson of both Yachad and the National Conference of Synagogue. Youth (NCSY) in Omaha, Gonsher recently finished a $100,000 campaign to endow the Omaha Yachad chapter. Accepting the award, he challenged individuals in their respective communities to do likewise. "I am so proud of Omaha," Gonsher said. "The midos, or qualities of the Jewish people in Omaha are so wonderful. . •- • "Standing on the podium to receive anaward that acknowledges tb,e generosity, kindness and dedication of our Omaha Jewish community made me feel privileged and blessed to be honored at
At the O.U.'s recent Yachad dinner in New York, Allan Gonsher, center, was presented with the Betty Solnica Chesed Award for his dedication to Yachad and the developmentally disabled, by Rabbi Hershel Solnica, right, and Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, National Director.
occasion," he added. With 30 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, Yachad is a leading resource center providing information and referral services for those with special needs in the Jewish community. The only organization of its kind, Yachad provides a unique range of social, recreational and religious interactive activities to bridge the chasm between the disabled and non-disabled populations. Beth Israel Synagogue honored Gonsher, and his wife, Rini, earlier this year for the couple's volunteer efforts in education and youth work. The Orthodox'Union, celebrating 100 years of" service to the Jewish community of the United States and other countries, is a leader in youth work and advocacy for the disabled. , For information about Yachad in Omaha and its activities, contact the group's advisor, Linda Novak, 493-8575.