NE: HIST SOCIETY
SALUTING THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS OF 1999 - photos on pa VoLLXXVI
No.38 Omaha,NE
Friedel announces plans for new Pre-K Program by Diane Axler Baum
Every spring, members of the Child Development Center's professional staff hear the concerns of parents trying to decide whether to send their children on to kindergarten. Typically, these are the children who have birthdays that fall between late summer and the October 15 cut-off. Starting in the coming school year, Friedel Jewish Academy plans to meet the important need of this group with a new program-a developmentally appropriate, academic.program for five-year-olds and almost five-year-olds, which will introduce kindergarten skills m a warn, Jewish environment Grant Glazer is one such student. He's a bright, personable child who spent three thoroughly successful years in the CDC Preschool, but his parents feel he's not quite ready for kindergarten. "We knew Grant met the age requirement and that he'd be ready for kindergarten academically, but in our hearts we felt he needed another year for his emotions to catch up," said his mother, Jennifer Glazer. - *"' ^ "We believe that children who develop a bit more maturity before starting kindergarten have an important edge all through school," she said. "For one thing, they're better prepared to face peer pres-. sure and academic pressure, especially later on (Continued on page 12)
i
Federation Campaign surpasses goal by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
The 1999 Annual Campaign of the Jewish persson relationships in the Western Galilee), and Federation of Omaha has achieved its fundraising social welfare issues such as immigration and goal, with pledges totaling $3,000,500, the most absorption. Elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union and other ever raised in the Balkan states are Omaha Jewish helped through relief 'comm u n i t y . efforts that bring Chairpersons for food, shelter and the Campaign medical attention to were Bob Eisenthose who are destiberg and Bob Newtute. man, General Campaign Chairs,., "All of us should be and Maxine Kjrproud of our accomshenbaum and Jan plishments," said S c h n e i d e r m a n . ^ k Newman, left, conJiaired the general campaign with F e d e r a t i o n W o m e n ' s Bob Eisenberg (not pictured); J a n Sohneiderman and President Howard Campaign Chairs. Maxine Kirshenbaum chaired the Women's Campaign. Kooper. "I am forever grateful to the Campaign Chairs, Division Joel Al person chaired the Pacesetter Campaign. More than 2,400 donors contributed to the effort, Leaders, workers and especially the donors; our making Omaha one of the highest per capita cam- community is just phenomenal." Federation Executive Director Jan Perelman paigns hi the country. Over 100 community members worked on the Campaign, calling donors and added, "This was an incredible campaign year. telling the story of Jewish needs locally, in Israel Between the JCC Campus Campaign and the and around the world. Money raised in Omaha Annual Federation Campaign, we raised $11.5 milsupports the local Centers of Excellence, scholar- lion dollars this year. The leadership of our Campaign Chairs is unsurpassed. I am so proud of ships, grants and Jewish programming. In Israel, funds help Partnership 2000 (a sister this community!" city arrangement to foster business and person-to- (More photos from the Annual Meeting on Page 10)
Storyteller andjuggler Izzi sky, a performer who c o m ~ bines two . unique talents tlli and juggling-will be the special guest at Temple : ^S' rael's family service next Friday evening, J u n e 18, at 7:30 p.m. For the past 20 years, Tooinsky has journeyedJ acrbsV America and the world to learn unique forms of jugglei-y and to collect many
uing education credits (CEUs) ^ d c a n also be taken as one nour °f credit at the College of St. Mary. For information on the festival, Perforlnances and credits, call 551-4532, or ™ s i t t h e teeval's website: www.storygalpre.coinl '' Tooinsky, a native Californian, has performed in Africa, Europe, Central America, the South Pacific and Aus-
legendary Tickets to sintales. He has gle events at been featured on numerous televi- the Nebraska Story-telling Festival sion shows, including ABC's Good are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and Morning America, and has received grants from the National Endowment of the Arts. Specializing in tall tales, Hebrew myths and legends, Tooinsky is alsoappearing in Omaha as part of the annual Nebraska Storytelling Festival, June. 18-20, at the College of S t Mary, 1901 So. 72nd St. The annual festival also features The Bright Chicks: Ozzie Nogg, Rita PaBkowitz, Vicky Bainea and Peggy Reineke, aa well as recent high school graduate Anna Cotton,' daughter of Marcy arid Ira Cotton. The festival is approved for contin-
68508-165-1
students and $4 for children under 12. Workshops are priced from $35 to$99. Temple Israel's Family Service is geared for children and their parents and grandparents, but is open to everyone in the community. Children whose birthdays fall in the month of June and July will receive a special blessing. Temple Israel will alBo honor volunteers, install new officers and board members and recognize Ann Kibe! Schwarti at its annual dinner meet* ing. ibis Sunday at 6 pan. Outgoing President Larry Roffioan will be honored and the Kol Rina Choir will ting.
Omaha Center for Torah Learning hires first director by Carol katzman
Rabbi Shlomo Levin of Israel has accepted the] position of Rosh\ Kbllel, director the Omaha Centerfor Torah Learning, announced Allan1 Gonsher, OCTLf" President The " organization's mission is to provide Jewish education to the communi ty in
Educational Leadership. Rabbi Levin also has a B A in environmental studies from Bar-Dan University; where, he. won the David'Saf-1 ra prize for outstanding research on global warming in climatology. In addition, he will receive teacher certification from Sha'alvim Teachers
Rabbi Paul Drathe needs of the individual or group. zen of Beth El Synagogue said, "We're ; Rabbi Levin, a native of Chicago, looking forward to having more opportuand his French-born wife, Noa, and nities for'-study and hope be will bring their two children, Talia, 2172, and strength to the Jewish community." : Ya'akoy, a one-year-old, will arrive. As Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Levin will use in Omaha in early July.' his talents and experience as a Jewish "After nearly two years of plan-i educator available to the entire Jewish ning and raising funds, we are "-"Community. Ten individuals have delighted that Omaha's first kollel already requested one-on-one will soon be a reality," said Gonsher, chavrusa-Btyle learning time, accordnoting that the Jewish Community ing to Allan Gonsher. The OCTL will Center, Beth El, Beth Israel, also host group classes and one-time Temple Israel and the Friedel special events, including a community Jewish Academy have all begun Champagne and Dessert reception for planning programs with Rabbi the rabbi and bis family on Sunday, Levin. . • . . : . . • : . . Oct 17,7 p.m., at the JCC. * 1 "Rabbi Levin has studied with some Educated at Yesbivat Harnivtar in Efrat, Rabbi Levin received his of the best and brightest in Israel,' smichtt, or rabbinic ordination from Gonsher added, "including the staff at Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of the Shalom Hartman Institute and fl"» Efrat, and from the Chief Rabbinate Pardes institute of Jewish Studies.* of Israel. He also completed a oneBoth are noted for broad appeal to year course at.Machon Amiel in students of all denominations: Jerusalem in fundraising, manage- Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstrocments public speaking' and commu- tioniflt and Reform. nication, and a two-year course at the Sha'al Institute for Rabbinic