i
ewish Press SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS Vol. LXXVI
No. 26 Omaha, NE
Life at Livingston
Apartments connect residents to activities, events, friends by Diane Axler Baum
2 INisan, oioo
Jan Schneiderman leads NCJW as first national president from Omaha
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(Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles about the Livingston Apartments, located on the grounds of the Jewish Vommunity Campus.) \ ' Molly Kurtz loves watching the babies in the Child Development Center nursery. "They're just adorable," she said, which is what motivates her to take a walk from her apartment at Livingston Plaza to the Jewish Community Center several times a week. She can visit throughout the year, regardless of summer heat or winter ice, because Livingston is connected to the J by an indoor passageway. For Kurtz, as for many other residents, one of Livingston's greatest benefits is its link to activities and events at the JCC and the Rose Blumkin Home. . Many Livingston residents take advantage of the bingo games, Monday and Thursday exercise sessions, weekly luncheons sponsored by Young Energetic Seniors and occasional YES outings. They attend performances, exhibits, and classes sponsored by the Jewish Cultural Arts Council. And they look forward to seeing kids from the CDC and Friedel Jewish Academy. Livingston's proximity to the Blumkin Home is its most important feature for Bill Haber, whose wife has been a RBJH resident for four and a half years. Twice each day he pays Beverly a visit, joining her at 2 p.m. for tea and again in the early evening. Once a week, the two go"b"ut--to-lunchr>i>fteh" accompanied by good friend Clara Katz, another former Livingston resident now living at the home. Some of Haber's other social outlets are the Wednesday morning teas held at Livingston and the opportunity to get together with residents who gather for refreshments in the meeting room while waiting to see the visiting nurse. "I find it's very comfortable," said Haber of life at Livingston, "a very hamische way of living. They make you feel right at home." For Kurtz, the sense of feeling "right at home" comes from being surrounded by caring friends. She has about seven special friends at Livingston, she said, and they took turns looking after her during her recent bout with a severe cold. She was relieved, she said, to recuperate in time to attend the YES Purim Party in the JCC auditorium. The festive luncheon, featuring a.performance by the Dancing Grannies, typifies the varied activities sponsored by the YES group. "They do everything!" she exclaimed, "It's quite nice." (Continued on page 8)
NE HIST SOCIETV 1500 R ST LINCOLN NE 63503-1651
by Carol Katzman
With the words, "It is with commitment and devotion I look forward to the challenge of moving NCJW into the next millennium," Omahan Jan Schneiderman was installed as National President at last week's triennial convention of the National Council of Jewish Women in Miami. More than 650 delegates participated in the four-day training and business meeting. The first Omahan to hold this prestigious position, Schneiderman will lead a national board of 30 women and 10 officers until May of 2002. Among the board members elected last week was CarolBloch, who was appointed to the NCJW National Board in 1997. The Omaha delegation included president-elect Beth Friedman, and board members Sara Juster, I congratulates newly installed Cheryl Lerner, and Ann Moshman. NCJW National President Jan Schneiderman. (Continued on page 9)
Former immigrant chosen as Resettlement Coordinator
Rabbi David Woznica speaks to the generations
by Joan K. Marcus
by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director
Tanya Seina Once an immigrant herself, Tanya Seina has been hired by the Jewish Family Service to be the new resettlement coordinator, adoption specialist, and therapist for families and children. Seina, now 26, was resettled by the Jewish Family Service when she was seven years old. Born in Minsk, Russia, Tanya came to Omaha in 1980, along with her parents, sister, and grandparents to live in an apartment on 114th and West Center Road. Although she had the closeness of her family, she remembers that resettlement was difficult. "You always look to your parents to guide you when you're little," she recalled. "It was hard for me because my parents were learning too!" She admits that her early years were "a little scary." She says that it's sometimes difficult if there's anything unusual about a child. Other children treated her differently just because she was Russian. "They sometimes treated me differently, but it was if I had had bright red hair," she remembered. "Children can sometimes be cruel." When she first came to Omaha, she attended Montessori School and Loveland Grade School. She doesn't remember learning to speak English. It helped that her sister, parents, and grandparents Returning to Friedel Jewish Academy, Anna were also learning American- customs. Kohll and Eli Preund, right, stop in the JCC "It felt comfortable for me to know that my grandGallery to show the books they've borrowed parents were living with us," she added. "I had to Livingston resident Bill Haber and his never known anything else." wife, Bev. The Habers regularly participate (Continued on page 8) in activities for seniors that occur at the *J*. .
When Rabbi David Woznica, Director of the Bronfman Center at the 92nd Street Y in New York City comes to Omaha, he will have the chance to speak to a wide range of community members. His first event will be "Judaism for My Generation," a YJO dinner and lecture on Wednesday evening, March.,24, at 5:30 p.m. According to YJO Director Sharon Kirshenbaum, "Rabbi Woznica will have just returned from the Midwest Young Leadership Conference where he will be scholar in residence. I know he will be very excited and have lots of innovative things to say!" Co-chairs for the YJO event are Lori and Michael Miller. "We are proud to bring a speaker of Rabbi Woznica's caliber to Young Jewish Omaha. His passion and speaking abilities are legendary around UJA," the Millers said. Dinner, catered by Jaipur, begins at 5:30 and costs $10 per person. Attendees are'invited to stay for Woznica's community lecture at 7:30. Carol and Steve Bloch are chairmen for the Community I Event entitled, "Have You Ever Wondered? What are the first four ] questions God will ask us?" "We are j really looking forward to | hearing Rabbi Woznica. His topic is very intriguing, and we want to extend a Caro1 a n d Steve Bloch personal invitation to everyone to spend an enlightening evening," they said. • Reservations for the community event, which is free of charge, can be made by calling Pam Monsky at 334-6431. The first 50 reservations will receive a hand crafted Ethiopian mezzuzah case. Reservations for YJO's "Judaism for My Generation" can be made by mailing a check for $10 per person to Sharon Kirshenbaum, YJO Director, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE, 68154. For more information, call 334-6485.