Jewish Pres*
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NE HIST SOCIETY
Serving Nebraska and Western Iowa tor more than 75 years VoLLXXVI
No. 19
Omaha,NE
Abe Baker dies; founder of Baker's Supermarkets Abe Baker, founder of Baker's Supermarkets, died Jan. 15 at the age of 95. Graveside services were held Jan. 17 at Beth El Cemetery. A memorial service and reception followed at Friedman Social Hall at Temple Israel. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen. Survivors include sons - and daughters-in-law, Jack and Judy Baker and Robert and Sonya Baker, all of Omaha; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie . and Jim: Krasne' of ' Scottsdale, AZ; sister and . brother-in-law, Ruth and I Isadore Wutkin of Sioux I City; eight grandchildren I and eight great-grandI children.. '; : Abe Baker The son of poor Russian immigrants, Abe developed Baker's from a tiny grocery store into a company which 71 years later consists of 22 supermarkets in Nebraska and Oklahoma. The company employs 4,600 associates. Baker's hallmark as a businessman was his commitment to customers. He led by example, working on the sales floor, bagging groceries and interacting with customers. Women, will always remember, ^ his gifts of tiny bottles of perfume. His favorite phrase is often repeated by associates:."The customer signs our paychecks." (Continued on page 6)
5 Shevat, 5759
Building rises in JCC addition
Looking south from the parking lot to the back grounds of the Jewish Community Center, the new Sokolpf Health and Fitness Center is currently under construction. According to Mike Collier, Campus Manager, tjje ramp to the racquetball.courts has been removed, tennis courts demolished, site work and drainage relocation underway, footings poured, and walls are under construction. The next step will be delivery and installation of the steel framing for the fitness center. Less then $250,000 is needed to complete the fundraising for the Building Project
Endowment Achievement Award recognizes Shirley and Bud Goldstein .
by Claudia Sherman, Foundation Public Relations Coordinator
In honor of their "generous support of local and national Jewish and secular charities,'' Shirley and Bud Goldstein have been named by the Council of Jewish Federations/United Jewish Appeal as 1998 recipients of the Endowment Achievement Award. The Award is presented annually to community leaders whose vision and dedication have been instrumental to the successful growth of their Federation's endowment funds. The Goldsteins were nominated by the Omaha Jewish Federation Foundation. 1997 recipients of the Endowment Achievement .Award were Henry and Dorothy Riekes. Previous Omaha recipients included Isadore Tretiak, Jule Newman, Howard Kaslow, Mort Trachtenbarg, Murray Newman, Morton Richards, David Friedland, Harlan Noddle and Joseph Kirshenbaum, and Phil and Terri Schrager. . "We strongly support the work of the Jewish Federation"Foundation of Omaha," agreed the Goldsteins. "The Foundation provides the forum where donors channel their major charitable gifts. They are the insurance policy for many of the continuing programs and capital improvements in the • Jewish community when they are not able to come up with funding from the budgetary process." Through two endowment funds, the Goldsteins have provided scholarships to attend Jewish camps and support for the'Federation library to purchase literary and educational material, sponsor lectures, classes, programs and services of interest or to benefit Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union. ; ' The couple also established an endowment fund at,the University of Nebraska at Omaha to subsidize an annual lecture on human rights.
January 22,1999
Staff selected for Artza'99 by Lisa Shkolnick, Artza Director
For the past 25 years, Mrs. Goldstein has been Omaha natives Andy Ruback and Gary instrumental in supporting Refuseniks in the for- Shyken,will join me in staffing the upcoming teen mer Soviet Union. She worked with Nebraska sen- trip to Israel. Both have former Israel experience ators, United States presidents, and government andboth prove to be an excellent asset to our team. agencies, keeping them informed of the condition Andy Ruback is pursuing" r of Soviet Jews and campaigning for their release. his Bachelor of Arts in| With the help of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Communication Studies! Mrs. Goldstein brought the first of more than 200 from Belleyue UniversityJ families from the former Soviet Union to resettle in He is.currently working a t | Omaha. • First'National Bank of She has been recognized by the Union of Omaha. His prior work! Councils for Soviet Jews for her work, honored by experience includes consec-p the Jewish Federation with its Humanitarian utive years as a JCC coun1 Award and by the University of Nebraska at selor for both day and ; Omaha with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane overnight JCC camps. He is Letters. She was also a nominee for the United also a past Artza participant. Andy Ruback Way's Volunteer of the Year award. Together, Shirley and Bud Goldstein provided Gary Shyken is no stranger to the Omaha Jewish funds for charities working to free Soviet Jews. jCommunity either. His forBud Goldstein, now retired, owned a successful Imer employment includes truck rental business. A leader in the-Omaha jAssistant Director of Camp Jewish community, he served as Federation presii-v;,-4Jay-C-C. He completed his dent and has been involved in numerous annual •-"•.Bachelor of Arts degree at Federation campaigns. He also was chairman of '.-' -Indiana University in 1998, the campaign to raise funds for the Rose Blumkin . |majoring in Political Jewish Home. -•^Science and Judaic Studies. ^Currently, he is finishing a Marty Ricks, Foundation Endowment Director, [fellowship with the Steinsaid, "Shirley and Bud joined other award recipiIhardt Jewish Campus ents whose names were included in this year's pro•Service Corp, assisting in gram for the General Assembly which recently con'the daily activities of runvened in Israel. All of us who attended the General Assembly .were proud to represent Omaha and sup- ning the Cleveland Hillel Foundation. port all the 1998 Endowment Achievement winShyken has been to Israel twice, as a participant ners, especially Shirley and Bud, who have con- on BBYO's March of the Living in 1992, and tributed so much of their time and resources to BBYO's Israel Summer Institute in 1993. make Omaha a wonderful place to live." • (Continued on page 6)
Page 2 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE January 22,1999 Power of the Soul
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 Russian Club, 10 a.m. Temple Israel Shabbat Comes to You, 3:45 p.m., at Livingston Plaza SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 Out for Shabbat," 9:30 a.m., at Beth El & "Watch Melaveh Malkah Grade 7&8,4:30 p.m., at Beth El S Sisterhood/Men's Club Social, at Temple Israel SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 A V Israeli Folk Dancing, 10:30-11:30 a.m., at Beth El E Temple Israel Outreach Program & Dr. Freund Lecture, 10 a.m., at Temple, "The Soul of the Jewish Teacher," 12:30 p.m. MONDAY, JANUARY 25 YES Program, 9:30 a.m. JCAC Financial Planning Class, 7 p.m. Cub Scouts, 7 p.m. Adult Education Program, 7:30 p.m., at Beth El TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 JCAC Computer Class, 7 p.m. Federation Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Boy Scouts, 7:30 p.m. 1 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 JCAC Bridge, 7 p.m. Grade 7/8 parent conference, 5 p.m., Temple Israel BESTT High School Dinner Night, 6 p.m., Beth El THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 < Walk-in Drop-in, 9:30 a.m. Sisterhood Adult Ed., It) a.m., at Temple Israel Temple Israel Grade K-6 parent conference, 7 p.m., at Temple L.O.V.E. Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., at Blumkin Home Conference Room FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 Beth Israel Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi Ben Zion Twersky
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L I P * ' 5 A y E
Ali Lerner (right), presents a 'Woman of Valor' award to her grandmother, Ruth Goldenberg of Lincoln, during the evening at Chabad House.
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Eve Heisler (right), asks Tova Mordcchai about her life now in Tzefat, Israel. Mordechai's book, Playing With Fire, is available in the Jewish Federation Library.
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This week's Torah portion, Bo, speaks of the last three plagues visited on Egypt, and of the Jewish people's long-awaited departure from there. It begins with God's command to Moses that he go to the Pharaoh, King of Egypt, to warn him of the impending plague of locusts. God, however, states that the Pharaoh will not heechthe warning: "For I have hardened his heart. . .in order that you tell in the ears of your son and your son's son that which I wrought in Egypt." We learn from this that the locusts did hot come as a punishment for Pharaoh's refusal to heed the warning: God had hardened his heart so that he would be unable to agree to free the Jews. But if such is the case, isn't it unjust for God to punish Pharaoh with the plague, when God Himself prevented him from acceding to Moses' demand? The Rebbe explains that during the first five plagues, Pharaoh had free will to decide his actions, and he could have permitted the Jews to leave. It was only after Pharaoh demonstrated his wickedness and rebelled against God- "Who is God that I should listen to His voice?"--that his free will was taken away. This punishment clearly fit the crime: Pharaoh questioned God's authority and boasted of his own might, so he was shown that he did not even have the power to make his own decisions. Pharaoh was thus fully subjugated to the will of God. . Furthermore, Pharaoh's behavior during the . plague of locusts underscored his impotence. When even his servants begged him to free the Jews ~ "Let the people go so that they can serve their God. Do you not yet know tljat Egypt is lost?" —Pharaoh immediately agreed and declared to Moses and Aaron, "Go worship your God" But at that very instant, God hardened his heart and the Pharaoh was forced to renege on his promise. Even with that explanation we are still left with a philosophical problem. Why did Moses and Aaron have to go through the motions of issuing a formal warning if they knew that there was no chance that the Pharaoh would agree to their request? It is explained in the book of Tanya, the central work of Chasidic Philosophy, that even a person who is so sunken in evil ways and so deplorable that "he is not provided with a means to do teshuva (repent)," even he can overcome and find his way back to righteousness. Even the most corrupt and abominable sinner can return to God. If Pharaoh, totally self-centered, wicked and deprived of his free will could have prevented the final plagues from befalling his nation by exerting supreme effort to overcome the hardening of his heart, how much more so is it possible for every . Jew to overcome his negative character traits to do teshuva. A Jew's Godly soul is termed "an actual piece of God," and is in his possession always, for the Jewish soul remains faithful to God even if the body commits a sin. A Jew always has the power to do Teshuva, to return to God and live in harmony with his true essence. God awaits the return of every single Jew, for he can only sin externally, as his internal nature is untouched and holy. Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
SADYE NEWMAN Services for Sadye Newman wete held Jan. 15 4t Beth El Synagogue. She :died'Jan-.-*13 at "the age of 94. Rabbi Paul Drazeh and Cantor;Emil Berkovits officiated. Burial wasf at Beth El-Cemetery. ; She was preceded'in death by her husband, Maurice; and brother, Henry Shulkin.., /:.-;:•Survivors include nieces, nephews and cousins., Memorials may be.made to Be^h El Synagogue.
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SYNAGOGUES
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 3
CANDLELIGHTING: 5:09 p.m.
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
BETH EL SYNAGOGUE
Orthodox JewishConfir«gatiOnftof America
gg of Ck>nservotive Judaiwn
a; Omtoa, 492-8550 FRIDAY: Shabbat service, 8 p.m. Rabbi Stiel, Cantor Blum and Dr. Michael Yablonski will officiate. Special guest speaker will be Joel Grishaver, etoiyteller, writer, editor, family educator, cartoonist" and preacher. His topic will be T h e Soul of the Jewish Family-Rabbinic Insight in Getting Along With Your Mother, Father, Son, etc." The Oneg Shabbat will be sponsored by the Temple Sisterhood. Shabbat Comes To You, 3:45 p.m. Rabbi Debbie Stiel and the Temple Youth Group will lead a Shabbat service at Livingston Plaza SITTER SERVICE Sitter Service is available Friday evening & Saturday mornings when there is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Sunday mornings when there is Religious School. Please make a reservation.'Cost is $2 per family if reservations are made prior to Friday. Drop-ins, $3 per family. No facilities for infants. SATURDAY: Shabbat service, 10:30 a.m. Simcha B'Shabbat~An informal Shabbat service that includes study and discussion of Jewish texts. SUNDAY: Outreach & AOL, 10 a.m. Rabbi Richard A. Freund, Isaacson Professor of Judaic Studies and Director of Bethsaida Excavation Project, University of Nebraska at Omaha, will deliver the third of a five-lecture series. His topic will be "Who Wrote the Bible?: Are There Divine' Codes in the Bible?" The entire congregation is invited to attend. ADULT EDUCATION Sisterhood Adult Education Thursday, Jan. 28: Rabbi Azriel will teach "Jewish Identity. Past, Present and Future," from 10-11:30 aan.; Beginning Beyond Midrasah, 6:458:10 p.m.; Beyond Midrash, 8:15-9:10 p.m., both led by Don Schwartz.
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TIFERETH ISRAEL;
Member of tlie United Synagogue: * ,-,, ' of Conservative Judaism ' --,' 3219 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502
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Services conducted by Rabbi Stanley M. Rosenbaum. Minyan on Monday and Thursday at 7:15 a.m. FRIDAY: Services, 8 p.m. -SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m.; Junior Congregation, 10:15 a.m.; Kiddush and luncheon hosted by Jim Berk in honor of his father, Sam Berk, on his 90th birthday. SUNDAY: USY and Kadima will meet jointly from nopn-2:30 p.m. They will work on a service project to update the library. Lunch will be served. SUNDAY, Jan. 31: Kadima will meet at noon in the'lounge; joint Tu'B'shevat celebration with B'nai Jeshurun. O"/
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Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ^ Services conducted by Rabbi Howard Kutner. FRIDAY: Kabbalat Shabbat service, 5:10 p.m. SATURDAY: Services, 8:45 a.m., Little People service, 10:15 a.m.; Jr. Congregation, 10:30 a.m. Babysitter service courtesy of Sisterhood; Kiddush sponsored by Susan and Charles Lerner as a thank you to the synagogue on the occasion of their departure from Omaha; Class with the Rabbi, 4:35 p.m.; Mincha, 5:05 p.m., followed by Shalosh Seudot, Ma'ariv and Havdalah. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m.; Beis Hamedrash, 9:45 a.m.; Mincha, 5:05 p.m. WEEKDAYS: Services, 7 ajn.; Mincha, 5:15 pan. MONDAY: Women's Lunch & Learn, 12:30 p.m. "at the JCC with Mrs. Kutner. Chumash class at 7:30 p.m., and learn to chant the Haftorah at 8:30 p.m.; both classes with Rabbi Kutner. WEDNESDAY: Rabbi Kutner teaches a Talmud class at the synagogue at 7:30 p.m.
B'NAI ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE 618 Mynster St, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503 Phone:322-4705 FRIDAY: Services, 7:30 p.m. Discussion topic by Professor Yvonne Freund will be T h e only thing worse than having aging parents is not having aging parents. Why?" Oneg Shabbat, prepared by Peggy DeLand and Sandra Kurland, will follow. FRIDAY, Feb. 12: Bob Eisenberg will speak on "Further Evidence of the Hassidic Movement."
CONGREGATION B'NAI JESHURUN SOUTH STREET TEMOPUE Member of the Union < . of American Hebrew, Congregations 2061S, 20th St., Lincoln, NE 68602-2797 Services officiated by Cantor Michael Weisser. FRDDAY: Sabbath Eve service, 7:45 p.m. SATURDAY: Shabbat worship, 9:30 a.m.; Torah study, 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY: Hebrew School, 9 a.m.; Religious School, 10 aan. WEDNESDAY: Adult Education, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY: Choir rehearsal, 7:30 pan.
ROSE BLUMKIN JEWISH HOME SATURDAY: Services, 9 a.m., led by Steve Riekes.
OFFUT AIR FORCE BASE
25th and Capehart, Omaha, NE
294-6051
Services conducted by Rabbi Ira Flax. ' Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
'Joy of Shabbat' dinner to be held at Beth El
The Campaign for Shabbat committee^at Beth El is planning a "Joy of Shabbat" congregational dinner on Friday, Feb. 5. The dinner will be the first in a series of Shabbat dinners as part of Beth El's "Celebrate Shabbat" campaign. . Beth El was chosen to.be among a select group of Conservative congregations tov participate in "Campaign for Shabbat," a joint project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and the' Rabbinical Assembly Committee •" oh Committment and Observance. . . The project uses programs and activities to cre; - ate Shabbat awatenesff ahd.stSmulate members to teofthe ., :m,% > .'.•'explorejvaya:to:ihcbrp6rateiits observance into iiontet Federation.; h N E €8124-5130 theirlivesi;i"ii'; ,-!:.;.". . • h The dinner will follow the 6 p.m. Shabbat evening services. Cost is $9.50 for adults; $5 for Reser!H6o£: Sundayaftd ituesdayKi £hj,ldren 3-12; children' under-3 are free. yatiohs are. due byMonday, Feb. 1. The; program is .-'... ' '. 7Span^lSrshabbat inine hffieL ¥ vOpen to the; community. 30: Hayclalah' and Tu "For..mor e information, contact Cheryl Lerner at Beth El, 492-8550. iB'shevafcsederaitthesyjiagogue. • • •.• •••• Services conducted by Rabbi Mendel Katzman. SATURDAY: Services, 9:30 a.m., followed by . Kiddush. Mincha-Ma'ariv, 4:45 p.m., followed by ;Havdalah. - MONDAY through FRIDAY: Services, 7 a.m. TUESDAY: Parshah Insights, 7 p.m. THURSDAY: Halachah; 101 Class, 8 a.m.; Tova - MordeChai'will speak at 7:30 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are conducted by Rabbi Paul Drazen and Cantor Emil Berkovits. FRIDAY: Services, 6 pan. SATURDAY: Watch Out for Shabbat-The Adult Education Committee will sponsor the fourth "Watch Out For Shabbat" starting with services at 9:30 a.m., Middle Eastern lunch, activities and learning sessions and minha/ma'ariv/havdalah and Israeli dancing. Special guest is Joel Lurie Grishaver of Torah Aura Productions ; TSS (Torah Study Skills) 10 a.m.; Sitter service, 10 a.m.; Shabbat Story Time (pre-kindergarten and under) 11 a.m.; K'tantan (kindergarten through 3rd grade) 10:45 a.m.; Humash with Rashi study session, 4:45 p.m. (1/2 hour before M/M); MinhaMa'ariv and Havdalah services, 5:15 p.m. SUNDAY: Services, 9 a.m. Israeli folk dancing continues, 10:30-11:30 aan. in the west court. WEEKDAYS: Services, 6:55 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. MONDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVD3S Adult Education is sponsoring a movie night Monday, Jan 25, 7:30 p.m., from the "Golden Age in Hollywood/* Discussion on issues will follow. ADULT B'NAI MITZVAH CLASSES The sessions continue on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p . m . ' •
JUDAICA SHOP: Open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, 10-12, or by appointment.
Bat Mitzvah Hannah Beth Wolf, daughter of Philip and Nancy Wolf, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 30, at Temple Israel. A distinguished honor roll student at Russell Middle School, she plays saxophone in the school jazz band, plays select Softball, plays basketI ball on the JCC girl's I team and is on the I Gladiators team. In basketball she has earned the following awards:, outstanding female grade school athlete, best ballhandler, and outstanding seventh grade girl. In addition, she has received the Principal's Award and was chosen Student of the Week. She also enjoys reading, watching movies and being with friends. For her mitzvah project, she volunteers with Yachad. Hannah has two brothers, Alex, 10, and Nathan, 7. Grandparents are Harriett and Aaron Wolf of Wheeling, IA, and Donald Lindow of Detroit, ME, and the late Helen Lindow. •
YJO and Beth El to host Tu B'shevat seder Young Jewish Omaha (YJO) and Beth El Synagogue will host a Tu B'shevat seder on Sunday, Jan. 31, 12:30-1:45 p.m., at Beth El Synagogue, 14506 California St. Lunch is included. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Please mail a check by Jan. 22 to: Sharon Kirshenbaum, YJO Director, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 58154. Your check is your reserva!ihF j^f6^6"'ll'33464S$
gp Finxl out t h a t ' s • gbit|fi on a t © www. jewishomaha.org!
Page 4
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Editorial
January 22,1999
The postman cometh
By now, everyone knows that the postage rate to mail a first class letter has risen one cent. While-the overall cost to mail heavier letters has decreased, newspapers and other periodicals will also have to pay higher fees to deliver their product on a regular basis. That means the costs for the J e w i s h Press have increased, too. Not only will the post office charge us more to deliver our weekly paper, but it will also cost us more to mail out bills to our regular advertisers and subscribers. Luckily, our revenue from weekly and special issue advertising has increased during this past calendar year. So, thanks tojthe advertisers in this paper, we do not have to pass on the increases to our out-of-town subscribers, nor do we have to request a higher subvention from the Jewish Federation of Omaha. And, because of the higher overall revenue, we aren't raising our rates
Journal entry
to our loyal advertising clients. But, we are going to make two requests of our readers: Number one on our list: please, please tell our advertisers you saw their ad in this paper. Businesses want to know how customers learned about; them; the more they hear "I saw your ad in the Jewish Press," the higher the odds they'll continue to place ads with us. And, number two: if you're moving permanently to a new location (in or out of town), spending the winter in warmer climes, or sending your son or daughter off to college-please notify us as soon as possible with the address change. Every time we get notification from the post office, it costs us 50 cents; with 20-30 changes per week...well, you add it up! - Every dollar vrycan save, every expense we can share with another Center of Excellence, means that annual campaign dollars can be spent in the most efficient way. Thanks!
It) QET INTO THE CFFfcEf
Walking to school
Complaints' about compulsion?
by Teddy Weinberger
by Cart Alpert
Dedicated to the blessed memory of my grandmother-in-law, Sylvia Ross, may she rest in peace. The scene of children walking to school in the morning is part of my idyllic American landscape. The children of the community fill the streets in the morning, and then again in the afternoon, as they walk, run, shove, push, and laugh their way to and from school. • But a lot of American Jewish kids aren't in this picture. They are the ones who go to Jewish schools—schools that are usually located beyond walking-distance for most students, schools that have unusually long school days and an unusual school calendar. Aliyah is the normalization of Jewish life. You become part of a society where the weekend begins on Thursday night, where the December holiday is Hanukkah, and where the New Year is ushered in with apples dipped in honey. Part of this -normalization of Jewish life includes the educational system. In America, providing your child with a quality Jewish education means sending that child to a day-school, and this usually means having to pay hefty tuition bills and having to take your turn on the car-pool line. , In Israel, it is possible to provide your child with a quality and convenient Jewish education for as little as $200 per child per year (including books, supplies, and trips). Indeed, from the front door of our house we are able to look at our children's school: the public religious primary school of GivatZe'ev. In Israel, therefore, even a religious Jewish.kid can be a Huck Finn or a Tom Sawyer. You want to collect rocks in the wadi after school (and make up a good excuse to give your father for your lateness)? Go right ahead (just don't get caught). You want to get to school a half-hour early to play soccer in the yard? It's up to you.' You want to stop at the little grocery store a block before school and buy candy (further ruining your teeth)? No problem (but be sure to share your candy with any sibling who sees you, otherwise they'will tell on you). You're in control (you think). You have the freedom to do more of the things that kids are meant to do. How wonderful it is to sit at my kitchen table
and hear my children's school-belf go Toff a t ' 7:45 a.m, as the kids all say first bell.-*' ' "-' i~ ' How nice it is when I can persuade one of the big kids to walk Elie to his (public religious) pre-school (which is on the way to- the primary school), then kiss everyone goodbye and have my own private,' civilized breakfast. ••,...• . . • And even when I have to take or pick Elie up, what a feeling of normalcy to be out doing what just about every other adult walking on the streets is doing: taking their child (or grandchild) to school. •.. . There was a teachers' strike at the beginning of this school year. Since my kids go to schools that are in the regular public system, their schools were affected. Every day for a week it was touch and go. You got up in the morning, listened to the 6 a.m. newscast, and found out if you needed to wake the kids for school. The whole country was at wits' end by the end of that week. But I was secretly glad that my kids didn't go to one of the alternative religious schools that were not striking. It was great to be part of something bigger than you, even if in this case that something was a collective anxiety. When they interviewed a parent on the radiothat was me. When they interviewed a kid who was waiting for his first day. of first grade—that was my Ezra. And when the strike was finally settled, my sigh of relief rose heavenward along with a million others across the land. How normal to have a teachers' strike (although perhaps a bit too normal here).' It's part of a package deal: a deal where kids grow up thinking that it's normal to study Rashi's cbmmentary, Jewish law, and Talmud in public school. The kids, in fact, see nothing out of the ordinary in walking to their public school and in studying these subjects-wbich, for Jewish kids, is as normal as it should be.
Haifa' - 'StonVe'years ago there was quite, an uproar in Israel qver a T\£a.clveriising cainpa&n to promote the consumption of grapefruits". Accompanying the promotional text, 6xtbllihgrthe taste and the nutritional- values'of the ! fruit; were several -beautiful," sniilihg models',' iwhoW major characteristics were the rounded' shapes of their twin breasts, just about the size of the grapefruits, almost bursting out bf the confines of their !6utfits. There was no mistaking the allusion. • • • The ad brought smiles to many faces; but drew • condemnation from ultra-Orthodox circles who threatened to boycott grapefruits unless the offending ads were withdrawn. They were. From time to tune there have been cases of the burning of bus shelters, especially in Orthodox ' neighborhoods, when advertising on the walls of the shelters featured women in various stages of undress. Advertising agencies learned to be discreet. '" : • . •, • •' •'•'••••••.••''/'.'••'..
Of late there has'beena new wave of protests against advertising which was termed pornographic or offensive. An ad promoting the sale of Levis' jeans, said to have been shown throughout the world, was yanked from a TV broadcast because it showed a man walking through a crowded area, with his bare behind fully exposed. (Continued o n p a g e 5)
T o t h eEditor:
Steve Levlnger ' Chairman, > Carol Katzman Editor-in-Chief Morris MalliM Editor Emeritus Maureen LaPour Managing Editor Larry. A n l r o d Advertising Manager • Barbara Frankal Rocky Stern Sales representatives Jenlna E. Sadofsky Bookkeeper Qaorge Schaplro Volunteer
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Golden- Slipper Camp.-an. agency of the Jewish. Federation of Greater Philadelphia; is seeking past campers, counselors and administrators to help celebrate the camp'sSOth-anniversary; >*"* i ;' • tr..: The Golden Anniversary-will be1 help at Twelve Caesers, 4200iCity Line: Ave.yPhiladelphia? PA>ori S u n d a y , N o v . 2 8 , i l 9 9 9 . ' ' " t i '-••' T^: '•">••-• ^ H :;;:ib For more information,-call<610-660-0520 b r w r i t e to Golden Slipper Camp, 301 E a s t City Ave;, Suite 300, Bala Cynwyd, PA., 19004. -•:>": •••''•^ •>«!=* '•"••'•• >• •'• 'r;v.ct.•.,;.:•,:,. - GaryiJiecbunt ;• •'• '• •:-,i.-.-' F o r m e r C a m p Dtrector : .t - ' .Mvand- Ariniversary Chairman •
THE JEWISH PRESS (Founded in 1920) ' / / The role of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to involve Jews in meeting Jewish communal needs locally.nationally and itt Israel. Centers of Excellence of the. Federation aw: Community Relations, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Educational arfd library Services, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Senior Services. Tho Jewish Press js a Constitutional Committee of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, > The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly on Friday for $26 per calendar year VS.; $30 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for. copy, ads and photos is Thursday, noon, eight days prior to publication. ' ' Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132nd S t , Omaha, NE 68154; Telephone 402-334-6448; FAX 402-334-5422; E-mail <33hpress@aol.com>
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JEWISH P R E S S G b M M f T T E e ; 9 w v : j Lloyd R b i t s t e l n ; Vice'Ch"atrnianS -PreS(KeHatfer, TreasurerrJoanie Jacobson; SerjetaryjEiycteAzriel; Jffl Belmont; ; : S t e v e D a n o n ; ' L i n d a SaltZnjan;: George Schapirp;Howard^ilberj/SteyeSimDri;:,,.;- -jv, <;-;..•-p,,,. Editorials expressthe'view of ttie wrlter'and are riot'riefessarily representative of the ; vietoB,;6f thfe 'Jewish P r e s s Committee, the Jewish'Feder'atidn of Omahq or thr>,Omalja Jewish Community as a whole. The J e w i s h Press reserves the right to edit letters and articles' for space and content. The J e w i s h P r e s s is not responsible for the Krishruth; of any product or establishment.. -, "-.-.- :i *•• '-'<•! i >•>
January 22,1999 Jewish Press, Omaha, NE Page 5
Complaints about compulsions (continued from page 4) Since the portable phone business The TV channel explained that it was policy not to show items which is highly competitive these days,' ;were in bad, taste, which offended Cellcom removed the ads. public feelings, or were disrespectful Feelings continued to run high on to the dignity of man. Proponents of both sides of the issue. The haredim freedom of speech and expression say they don't care what others see or .scoffed at the explanation, and listed look at it in, their own privacy, but numerous cases of violence and sex they regard it as offensive to their which pervade the TV channels. feelings when sexy arid provocative ; Last month the Delta textile firm pictures and texts are thrust into ' launched an outdoor billboard cam- their faces in public places. paign plugging a new line of young This they regard as a secular com\ ladies' underpants. SampleB of the pulsion. merchandise; many bearing short Liberal groups have not remained slogans or clever pictures, were dis- silent. They have launched a counter . played - alongside the punch line: campaign against concerns which "Only you will decide who can see." - yield to Orthodox pressures. The Custodians of the public morals dis- result, of course, is extra precaution patched vigorous letters of protest to taken by the advertising agencies in I the company. In response, Delta noted preparing texts for general display. A thought occurred to us. The •' that they had taken great pains not to show the panties on human models, so haredim do not read the mass circulation daily press, and therefore have as not to offend anyone. Then came another wave of no complaints about what appears protests. Cellcom, purveyors of a cel- there. They have their own carefully lular telephone service, featured in edited papers. Do these papers carry news about its outdoor ads a young couple in close and happy embrace Spokes- the Clinton affair? And if they do men for the haredim threatened to publish abridged reports about boycott Cellcom if the ads were not impeachment in Washington, do they understand why? • discontinued. i , Haifa religious council to meet , wit;h non-Orthodox representatives : by Naomi Segal • This past weekj the high court JERUSALEM (JTA) - A Knesset vote ajmed at setting back the cause iBsued another decision that-blocked of religious pluralism in Israel has Orthodox efforts to prevent Conservative and Reform representatives been put on hold In the latest in a string of victories from taking seats in the. powerful relifor .the Conservative and Reform gious councils, which have exclusive movements, a Knesset committee jurisdiction over marriage, kashrut, refuped last week to back a bill that burial and other religious matters for would block the appointment of non- all Jews living in Israel. The court, which ordered the Haifa Orthodox representatives to local religious councils. The move by the religious council to allow the particiKnesset Law Committee, which pation of non-Orthodox representaangered fervently Orthodox legisla- tives, deemed illegal an earlier order tors, prevented the bill from return- from Suissa to delay the meeting in order to prevent Conservative and ing to the full Knesset. Interior Minister__Eli Suissa Reform members from attending. While the Haifa council is expected attempted to counter the committee's move by announcing a plan to reduce to convene next week, the head of the council, Yitzhak Getz, said he believes the size of the councils. The announcement from Suissa, a that some Orthodox members would member of the fervently Orthodox boycott the gathering, adding that he Shas Party, was blasted by non- would adjourn the meeting if fewer Orthodox leaders as a blatant than half of the members attend. attempt to keep Conservative and After the Law Committee blocked the Reform representatives from.serving bill Tuesday, fervently Orthodox on the councils. ... Knesset members lashed out at two ;A spokesman for Suissa said the religiously observant members of the minister was seeking the cuts as part committee, Alex Lubotzky of the Third . of an eight-year-old plan to revamp Way Party and Zvi Weinberg of the the; councils. At the same time, the immigrant-rights Yisrael Ba'Aliyah ^spokesman conceded that the cuts Parly, for voting with the majority. cOuld.pre.vent non-Orthodox represenLubotzky countered that local religious tatives from serving on the council.. . councils are outmoded and inefficient. . The committed vote came on the Echoing a familiar, criticism of the counheels' of a court.decision that helped cils, he also charged.that they primarily clear the way for the Haifa religious serve as a "source of political jobs." council to meet next week with Along with the dispute over the reliOrthodox,' Conservative and Reform gious councils. Orthodox legislators 1 representatives. .I.:'.:-. .-;/./", ,, .- have also turned up the heat on ii.JJie.-b.ill.-—:designed to bypass a another issue in Israel's ongoing batrecentSupreme Court decision requir- tle over religious pluralism. Drawing ing- the.;fgo.y«r-nnient.;tOijappoint criticism from the liberal streams in Conservative and Reform representa- the U.S. as well aajsrael, the legisla-, bves"to inunldpalrejigioua councils — •> : are seeking to revive a bill that tors' was approved last month by the. would g|ve the Orthodox Chief Knesset in the first of three votes. Rabbinate sole control over: conver11 Religious' legislators'had sought *' sions performed in Israel. passage Of the bypass bill," which ' An advertisement in- Tfelfew York requires every member of, a religious Times called on American Jews to flood council to abide by rulings of the - the Israeli Embassy-in. Washing-ton Orthodox Chief Rabbinate; Beform with phone calls opposed the two bills. and'Cdh'seryatiVie leaders v^ere furi- An official with the, embassy said that ous after the Knesset backed the bill their switchboard had been flooded with in the first vote, saying'the bill calls'- but that the campaign had not mocked the court's ruling. ;: disrupted normal operations.
What's Jewish about the Jewish community?
Did you know...
Here's what's coining...
thai more than 350 people attended the community lecture by author, philanthropist and Minneapolis volunteer Gil Mann last week at the JCC? that 33 Jewish teens are registered for ARTZiA (there are still two slots open) and Israel preparatory classes begin at the end of this month? that more than 100 people attended a presentation by Tova Mordechai at the Chabad House on her journey to Judaism? that every child of Bar and Bat Mitzvah age receives two gifts of $500 each from the Jewish Federation for a Jewish summer camping experience?
Young Jewish Omaha (YJO) and Beth El Synagogue will sponsor a Tu B'Shevat seder (in honor of the 'new year of the trees') on Sunday, Jan. 31,12:30 p.m., at Beth El; Derekh Torah (a class for Jews and non-Jews interested in learning more about Judaism) starts Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., at the Blumkin Home conference room; YJO will also sponsor a community-wide Purim Party on Tuesday evening, March 2, 6 p.m., at the JCC; Temple Israel's Mitzvah Day is March 21, starting at 11:30 a.m.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
January 22,1999
Abe Baker dies
Artza '99 staff selected (Continued from page 1) In addition to local preparation and pre-Artza activities, all Artza staff will participate in the JCCA's comprehensive training seminar in New York in April. The first Artza Preparatory class begins Sunday, Jan. 31, at 2 pm. Only two spaces remain. For more information, call me at 334-6404.
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(Continued from page 1) ' Baker is credited for institutionalizing the red carpet service philosophy that remains the core of Baker's training program for new associates Baker was inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame in 1995 for his outstanding and historically significant accomplishments in business. The Omaha Rotary Club presented the Free Enterprise Person of the Year Award to Abe in 1988, recognizing him as an individual who best exemplifies, the free enterprise system. Baker's rise to success epitomizes the American.. dream. He was two years oldwhen his parents immigrated to the United States from Russia. The family settled in Sioux City just after the turn, of the century. They had little money and few possessions. At an early age, he exhibited an intense desire to succeed. His experience delivering papers as a pre-teen, and later working as a produce clerk, provided the foundation for his entrepreneural destiny. He learned early on that the best way to earn customer loyalty was to give premiere service. Baker and his wife, Helen, opened their first grocery store in Walnut, Iowa in 1927. Helen, like Abe, was the child of Russian immigrants who settled in Sioux City. They met while working at a sidewalk produce stand. After marrying, the Bakers moved to Walnut and worked side by side ii} their first grocery store, Walnut Fruit and Grocery. The tiny neighborhood store survived the stock market crash and the Great Depression, and served as the seed which grew into the supermarket company we know today. Although Baker has not had an active role in managing the company for several years, his leadership is still credited by associates and customers alike for creating the Baker's success story Memorials may be made to Temple Israel Endowment Fund or charity of choice.
Y.E.S./ Oldtimers Review
by Art Grossman
Concern regarding the demise of the OT/Y.E.S. Review was premature. The lack of disseminating information, for a few issues, was due to your reporter's having business with marvelous medical mechanics who are gradually reshaping me into a bionicman. . For years, the Early Bird discussion class, which waxes hot at times, requires my being involved as a Peacemaker—now I am involved with a Pacemaker. Our Jan. 11 Early Bird was one of the firebrand types. It seems when we talk about President Clinton, some of the folks' blood pressure goes up. We also addressed Russia's Communist Party, which has declared in a manifesto that the "spread of Zionism" is "one of the reasons for the current catastrophic conditions of the country." Recently, a Russian lawmaker known for her support of Jewish causes was assassinated. -.••'. We stood in memory for Henry Weiner, Lillian Schachman, Ruth Friedman, Sylvia Ross and Rabbi Sidney H. Brooks. Pearl Giventer is a new Life Member. Our total membership is now 321. Following lunch, we were entertained by vocal- , ists Don Schuler and Carolyn Jordan, accompanied by pianist Muffy Bratsween. -Shalom.
Nominations due for Outstanding Volunteer awards United Way of the Midlands has announced that entries for 1999 Outstanding Volunteer awards must be postmarked no later than midnight, Feb. 17, 1999. All nominations must be submitted on „ the United Way of the Midlands Volunteer Resource Center nominating forms. An agency, organization or individual may submit as many nominations as desired. For forms and more information, call 342-8232.
Oldest known synagogue in Jerusalem Jerusalem--The oldest known synagogue to be to its origins as a public building of a Christian found in Jerusalem, dating back to the first half of nature during Byzantine, rule in the city. It was the 7th century C.E., has been identified. destroyed following the Persian conquest of 614 Remnants of a Byzantine-era structure in C.E., then rebuilt following the Moslem conquest, Jerusalem's Old City were first uncovered years says Dr. Mazar. ago by Prof. Benjamin Mazar of The Hebrew It is from this period, she says, that one finds University of Jerusalem Institute of Archaeology. wall paintings of seven winged candelabra-a clear Dr. Eilat Mazar, granddaughter of Benjamin- Jewish symbol'of all the ages-on the lintel and Mazar and herself a within the building. The Hebrew University building also contains archaeologist, has conmany indentations in the firmed that the building, entranceways to the known as the "House of rooms of the structure, Menorot" (sevenwhere mezuzot, (scrolls branched candelabras) containing sections of because of the profusion Scripture placed in of candelabra paintings Jewish homes and public in its interior—was in buildings) would have fact a synagogue and been attached, and-glass Jewish place of gathering lamps that would have dating from the first half been used to illuminate of the 7th century C.E. the interior. This would make the All of these elements structure the oldest remtaken together point to nant of a Jewish house of the building's use as a worship in Jerusalem. Jewish house of prayer The earliest previously discovered synagogue, and study, says Dr. Mazar. ; which has been restored and is in use today, is the Evidence that Jews inhabited the area of the Rambari Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the "House of Menorof was found in the famous Cairo Old City. It dates from the 13th century. geniza (document storage chamber). There, a docuEarlier scientific publications regarding "The ment was discovered which granted permission House of Menorot" concluded that it had been a from the Caliph Oma^ ibn Alhateb (yyier;frftKQ ,634Jewish public building of some sort that had;been ,644) to 70 Jewish familiesfrom Tib.erias W^wke^ in use during the brief period of Persian rule jn the ,to settle l in i Jerusalem J l fl following theM Moslem con early part of the 7th century C.;E.{Howevie'rijaecord- [quest of;ttie cfty.rfheyfaffiili^ jhg.to^jv Mazar's paper, it was'used as a,;synagogue'arjd "house of study atithe unleQf Moslem ride in Jerusalem in 638 C.E. ! / i; |of ritual bathirt|? JTW ^ The'structure, partly excavated by Prof. Mazar in \ Publicatfoft%f^4i Publicatfoft%f^4iidirt|i4fthMarShaeologica . 1971-73, is a two-story stonei buildihgrarid court- ^expeditions carried2nJ£bly-fir61£Binyamin Mazar ii i yard located near the southwestern Corner (if the jthe Old City;.beganjlas>€year.uwder Dr.Eila; Temple Mount in an area today set aside as an . tMazar's dif ectiUn>iahd''iinde*itrre' 'auspices of th£ archaeological park. Its Byzantine style of, con- H.U. Institute of .Archaeology .with the backing of struction and the cross engraved on its lintel testify . the Israel Acadenlyo'^ •J ,
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January 22,1999
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 7
Organizations WEINSTEIN/KAIM
The 75th Anniversary celebration of Mother Chapter AZA #1 is planned for Sept. 3, 4 and 5, 1999. All past and present members, sweethearts, spouses arid advisers are invited. We need names and addresses. Please call Andy or David Finkle at402-493-5120.
Natalie Weinstein and David Kaim were married June.28 in Piedmont, CA, with Rabbi Lavey Derby officiating. The bride, a former Omaha resident and the| daughter of Harold and! Gayle Tichauer, owner and chief counselor of Bonnie Weinstein oil Vocational Assessment Services, Inc., has recently Mesa, AZ, is a copy edi-l been designated as 9 Certified Administrator, tor at the Jewisht Interpreter' and Trainer of-The Highlands Bulletin of Northerns Program, a new and innovative approach to help- California, based in Sanj ing find a clear direction for their education and Francisco. She is the granddaugh-l careers;v •• '••• ' '••'•• ' ter of Lillian WeinsteinR Rita Paskowitz is among those who will partici- of Omaha and the late Nathan Weinstein, and the pate in the- storytelling performance of late Hemmo and Martha Rogers. Always llfever Coming Home at the Lied Center for The groom, the son of Dr. Boris and Margarita Performing Arts in Lincoln. The event will be from Kaim of El Paso, TX, is a supervisor at Athena April23-May2,at2p.m. and 8 p.m. Cost is $12 for Neurosciences, based in South San Francisco. He is the grandson of Hedwig Eichenwald of El adults; $10 for students; A performance and patron reception will be held April 23 at 8 p.m. Cost is Paso and the late Erich Eichenwald, and Josefina Torres of Cali, Colombia, and the late Ezra Kaim. $30.-Best woman was Stacey Kingsbury. Best man '• For reservations, call 402-472-4747 or 1-800-4323231. For school rates and information, call 402- was Tom Shutt. Chuppah holders were siblings Jason Weinstein, Stefanie Peloquin, Tammy Yuen, 551-4532. . Ruben Kaim and Dr. Ezra El-Kayam, and friends Dr. Michael Steinman was recently honored by Sylvia Ulloa, Kate Hannigan, Jonothon Rich and the U.S. Administration on Children, Youth and LeahStift. After a honeymoon* in the Mendocina and Families. This award is presented to an individual from each state and territory who had made a sig- Calistoga areas, the newlyweds are living in 1 nificant contribution to:the prevention of child Oakland. abuse and neglect and has inspired others. Dr. Steinman is president of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. He is also a Professor of Political Science and an Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Debbie and Ken Shonfeld of Chicago announce Through its eighth annual Stop Hunger commu- the Dec. 5, 1998 birth of their twin sons, Samuel nity campaign, customers of Omaha-area Baker's Jacob and Zachary Joseph. Samuel is named after Supermarkets donated more than $10,750 of food his great-grandfather, the late Sam Zweiback, and to The Food Bank. The donations provided a holi- Zachary is named after his great-grandfather, the daykmeal for more than 15,000 people. late Joseph Perlman. Grandparents are Maxine and Joe Kirshenbaum '- A special 75th Anniversary lecture series, of Omaha and Marilyn and Bill Shonfeld of Who ami This Time"! Portrayals of Women in Film, Glencoe,IL. Theatre and Literature, by Brigit Saint Brigit Great-grandparents are the late Gussie and Sam Theatre Director Cathy Wells, will be held at the Zweiback and the late Abe and Yetta College of Saint Mary, 1901 S. 72nd St. in Omaha. Kirshenbaum, Rosalyn Perlman of Chicago and The series, on Jan'. 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, from 7- the late Joseph Perlman and the late Esther and 8:30 p.m., is $40 for all or $10 for one. This class Paul Shonfeld. compares women in the world of story to women in the real world. For reservations, call 399-2455.
Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday at the JCC. English as a second language for new Americans starts at 10 a.m.; bingo and exercise both start at 10:30. Bring articles to share for the "YES Talk" discussion group at 11. Following a hot kosher lunch at noon, Frieda Krizelman and Rose Rosenberg will give a presentation on Dolls for Democracy. For transportation, call 330-4272. * Membership dues for 1999 are now due. Please mail check payable to Y.E.S. in the amount of $2 per person to Y.E.S., c/o Frieda Krizelman, 331 S. 93rd Ave., Omaha, NE 68114. WALK-IN, DROP-IN
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Members will meet Thursday at the JCC. English class starts at 10 a.m.; exercise and bingo both start at 10:30. Bring a dairy sack lunch to eat at 11:30 a.m. At noon, come enjoy the movie An ' American in Paris in the Blumkin Home auditorium. Popcorn will be served. For transportation, call 330-4272. , BREADBREAKERS Rabbi Howard Kutner of Beth Israel will lead the discussion for Breadbreakers on Wednesday, according to Steve Riekes. The topic will center on the Torah portion of the week. For this month only, Breadbreakers will meet in the Rose Blumkin Home Conference Room. The noon luncheon is open to the community; advance reservations are not necessary, but would be appreciated. Please call Lois Epstein at 334-6443. THIRTY-NINE FOREVER
The February activity will be a Lancers game and dinner at Ak-Sar-Ben on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 5:45 p.m. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. For more information,' call Maxine Noodell at 493-7483.
Births
Nominations are now being accepted.for Nebraska Medical Association awards recognizing physicians who serve their patients, communities and the science of medicine as examples of excellence. There are two categories, Young Physician of the Year and Physician of the Year. For a -nomination form, call Kelly Madcharo, Associate Executive Director of the Nebraska Medical Assoc, at 474^472; or mail to: Kelly Madcharo, NMA, 233 So, 13th St., Lincoln, NE.68508-2091. Completed forms.must be received by Feb. 26. . '
Susan and James Polack announce the Jan. 14 birth of their son,' Joshua Michael. They have another son, Jared Maxwell, 18 months. Grandparents are Israel Berkowitz and Joseph and Lenore Polack, all of Omaha. Aridi and Kenny Jacobs of Tampa, FL, announce the Jan. 8 birth of their son, Austin Joseph. They have another son, Ryan Maril, 18 months. Grandparents are Dodi arid Steve Redler of Omaha and Kay and Maril'Jacobs of Tampa. Great-grandmother is Sylvia Shapiro of Omaha.
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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
" January 22,1999
Intriguing questions bring out the crowds by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director
Child Development Center Director to attend educators' conference in Israel by Carol Katzman
Linda Novak, Director of the Child Development ! I* Center of the Jewish Community Center, will fly to Israel this Sunday for a conference for Jewish educators. She is one of 22 Brill Fellows, chosen by the Brill Family Foundation and the Jewish Community Center Association, who will spend two weeks in Israel learning about Judaism, the land of Israel, and educational methods and programs. Funding for the trip came from the Brill Foundation, the CM. "Nick" Newman Fund for Professional Development (of the Foundation of the Jewish Federation), and the JCC of Omaha. According to Dr. Ruth Pinkenson Feldman, JCCA Early Childhood consultant, "The most significant result of the seminar will be the way it is brought home to other teachers, the children and their families." Conducting the seminar in Israel, will "substanThe visit of Gil Mann, left, was co-chaired tially enhance the participants' appreciation of by Jerry and Cookie Hoberman, whose per- their own Jewish identity," Feldman continued, "It sonalized invitations helped bring out the will help them make the transition from early community. childhood educator to Jewish educator, through a More than 350 community members turned out variety of experiences with premiere Jewish educalast week to hear author Gil Mann discuss impor- tors in Israel." For Linda Novak, who became the CDC Director tant trends in Judaism and what we can do to just last June, this trip will be her first to Israel. understand and enjoy being Jewish. "Although-I have never been to Israel, my daughMann began his discussion with a definition of Judaism which combines ethics, spirituality and ter, Shana, participated in the Artza trip," Novak peoplehood. These three concepts form interlocking said. "I have seen what, that trip did for her Jewish circles, and it should be the goal of all Jews to try identity. • "I have also seen that our history and culture as to live in the center of the converging circles. The author of How to Get More Out of Being a people and as a religion does not come through Jewish Even If... A. You are not sure you believe in osmosis to our children. We must teach it to our .-•'.. God, B. You think going to synagogue is a waste of children," she added. time, C. You think keeping kosher is stupid, D. You Noting that many parents today rely on the CDC hated Hebrew school, or E. All of the above! Mannto introduce their children to a "love of Judaism, said that the title "is intended to make you open its holidays and customs," Novak asked, "Why not the book. After that, the book is not meant to bring give them the best? Give our children a Jewish you to any specific Jewish destination. The main identity, a good feeling about being Jewish and a purpose of the book is to help you define how feeling which makes them, even at an early age, want to know more, ask questions and learn more Judaism can add meaning to your life." After his talk, Mann answered questions from about their people and their history." While in Israel, Novak and the other Brill particthe audience, and then signed copies of his book. Gil Mann is the first in a series of topical and ipants will also see the Reggio Emilio method of motivating speakers brought in to add to the choic- education in action. This educational approach, es of adult Jewish education in Omaha. On March developed in Italy, is a "child-centered" method 24, Rabbi David Waznika, from the 92nd Street Y ' that emphasizes a homelike environment, consisin Brooklyn, will be in Omaha to speak to YJO and tency of caregivers and emphasis on developmentally appropriate activities and involvement of the the community. family. This approach has captured the imagina-
tions of early childhood educators around the globe and, according to the JCCA's Feldman, "enables us to translate, adapt and rethink how we teach, and how children understand the world around them." Until last year, the CDC used an educational method called "High Scope Curriculum." In the fall of 1997, the CDC Committee, along with thendirector Dinah Raful and program director Carole Greenberg, began exploring the Reggio Emilio approach. Some 25 CDC staff attended a Reggio workshop in the spring of 1998 and five of the teachers completed a graduate-level class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last summer. Novak's itinerary includes visits to historical sites in the Old City, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, a stay on Kibbutz Ginossar in the Galilee, a trip south to Masada and the Dead Sea, meetings with pre-school educators and a school for children with disabilities. Participants will also celebrate Shabbat in Jerusalem, plant trees in a Jewish National Fund forest on Tu B'Shvat (the Jewish 'new year of the trees') and have the opportunity to study Jewish texts with Jewish educators. The new 19,000 square foot Child Development Center has also energized the department. Site work is underway where the tennis-courts were located, east of the outdoor pool. "Our architect, Mark Sanford, has 'brought' Israel into our new building," she noted. "We will, have arched gateways, skylights, a "Western Wall' in the entry where we will conduct pre-Shabbat ' services with, our children, and classrooms with Hebrew names. , . "The children,will benefit from anenriched Judaic curriculum and we hope to" bring Hebrew language instruction into these early years." ;, s. As part of the obligation of becoming a Brill Fellow, Novak will present findings of her trip at the JCC professional conference in November in Philadelphia and again at the JCCA Biennial Conference in Boston in May, 2000. ' Children, teachers and families of the CDC will be able to 'track' Novak's trip by visiting a specially created website for the Brill Fellows' seminar in Israel. "Beginning a journey to write curriculum and identity resources to. enhance this Judaic compo-. nent is a focused goal for me and our CDC and the families we serve," Novak added. "Being chosen as a Brill Fellow will help make this a reality." .', . ; .•,; '
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