CD
ewish Press
Serving Nebraska and Western Iowa lor more than 75 years VoLIXXVI
No. 17
Omaha, NE
Kids have fun, raise money for Kids Super Sunday
Susie and Mike Norton with son, Justin, admire a balloon animal made by "silly the Clown" (Lou Wolfson).
Magician Joe Cole entertains some of the ISO children who^attended the Second Annual Kids SuperiSunday at the JCC.
WE HIST SOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE 68508-1651
Religious pluralism battle erupts
Rabbi Sidney Brooks died Tuesday, Jan. 5, at the lage of 78. Seryby Avi Machlis lices were held jJan. 7 at Temple JERUSALEM (JTA) - Exactly one year ago, a Israel with burial committee headed by former Israeli Finance at Temple Israel Minister Ya'acov Ne'eman was putting the finishCemetery. Among ing touches on what was billed as a historic comthe speakers at promise over the conversion crisis in Israel. his funeral was . It aimed to usher in a new era of dialogue between Rabbi Barry Orthodoxy and the liberal streams of Judaism and to Weinstein of Bastart a process of reconciliation between Israel and ton Rouge, former Diaspora Jewry. The compromise was designed to assistant rabbi to avert the Knesset's adoption of a bill that would codiRabbi Brooks for fy into law the Orthodox monopoly over conversions 10 years. to Judaism performed in Israel. Survivors inIt called for the establishment of an institute in Iclude his wife, which the three major streams of Judaism would [Jane; daughter be involved in preparing candidates for conversion, and son-in-law, while leaving the actual performance of the converMiriam and Philsions under Orthodox control. Rabbi Sidney Brooks i p Wright of BosBut one year later, that compromise appears des- ton; son and daughter-in-law, Joel and Naomi tined to become no more than a historical footnote, Brooks, and grandson, Joseph, all of Tampa, PL. 'and some fear its failure could lead to an unprece- Rabbi Brooks came to Omaha in 1952 as spiritual dented rift in Israel-Diaspora relations. . leader oJ&Temple Israel — arid he stayed. , ... Although the institute is preparing to open, the Oyuained at Hebrew Union College in 1946, • compromise proposals were never accepted by Rabbi Brooks served Temple Shalom in Israel's Orthodox Chief Rabbinate. The liberal Springfield, Ohio, before moving to Omaha. movements will participate, but without the rab- During his 33 years years at Temple Israel, Rabbi binate's endorsement, Reform and Conservative Brooks witnessed many changes and considerable leaders in Israel fear graduates of the institute growth in the congregation, which had fewer than may. never have their conversions recognized. 300 families when he arrived. At the time of his Instead of dialogue, the apparent failure of the retirement in May, 1985, Temple Israel had grown Ne'eman Committee's compromise has sent both to 670 member families. sides in the religious pluralism campaign back to^ the Rabbi Brooks saw the congregation through the battlefield — which is now being waged on two fronts. devastation of the May, 1975, tornado when the •Conversions: Orthodox parties in the Knesset building was heavily damaged and the congregaare attempting to revive the conversion bill after tion operated out of a variety of locations during the Jerusalem District Court last week ordered the reconstruction. Interior Ministry to recognize as Jewish, 23 people During his tenure and since his retirement, who underwent conversions performed by Rabbi Brooks has been highly visible and active in Conservative and Reform rabbis. both the Jewish and general communities. He has The bill has been redrafted to incorporate the served on the the boards of the Jewish Federation, Ne'eman Committee's proposals. But leaders of the of Omaha, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, liberal movements say this undermines the spirit B'nai B'rith Men, National Conference of of the compromise, which was meant to avoid legis- Christians and Jews, Boys Club of Omaha, lation codifying Orthodox control over conversions. Planned Parenthood, Omaha Food Bank, The ruling is being appealed to Israel's Supreme "Downtown Rotary, Operation Bridge and the Court, which is considered likely to uphold it. But American Civil Liberties Union. recognizing the potential for further discord, He has been awarded honorary degrees: Doctor of Hanan'Porat, chairman of the Knesset's Law Divinity from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Committee, said he would ask the Supreme Court Institute of Learning in 1971; Doctor of Humane to postpone hearingjhe appeal until after .Israel's Letters from the University of Nebraska at Omaha May 17 national elections. • in 1985. He received the 1981 Humanitarian . 'Religious councils: In another piece.of legisla- Award from the Midlands Region of the National (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 8)
Russian singer to perform at JCC _
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Phyllis Schwartz and grandchildren, Sara and Laura Kline, enjoy the meal provided by Zio's, Prito Lay and Mid-Continent Bottlers. Lana Kirnarsky was one of 20 volunteers who helped with Kids'Super Sunday. Children 'who brought in tzedakah boxes made a t the CDC or religious school enjoyed a day of fun.. More than $350 was raised. photos by Bob Belgrade
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Svetlana Portnyanskaya will make her debut at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. Her songs in Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew, American pop and opera have won her' critical aclaim. The concert is spon-' sored by the Jewish \ Arts Council, the New ' American Cultural' Society and the Theatre at the'J.' Tickets are priced at j $10 for general admis-' sion and $8 for seniors and students. Call JCC Member Services at 334-6425 for information or to make reservations.