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SERVING NEBRASKA ANDWESTERN IOWA FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS VoLLXXVI
No. 48 Omam,NE
8EluL5759
August 20,1999
Women's Campaign kicks off with Beth El appoints Associate Cantor sculpture and life on the border by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director
The 2000 Women's Campa gn of the Jewish Federation of Omaha will be chaired by Joan Kaiman and Nancy Noddle. The Women's Campaign will kick off with an Opening Rec ration for renowned Israeli sculptor Itzik Benshalom >n Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., at Beth E. Synagogue. More than 60 pieces of Benshalom's woj:k will be displayed and available for purchase. Benshalom was born in Hadera, Israel, in 1945, and works in the tradition of figurative sculpture in the round. He specializes in the 4,000-year-old "Lost Wax" method of caj ting sculpture. Benshalom's sculpture refers to human emotion and is often cast in pairs, male and female. The juxtaposition expresses the esse ice of Benshalom's concern with human interaction He says of his work, "The Twentieth Century artist has to work primarily w thin the psyche of alienation. The overlay of mode: n existence, which seems to be communicated n ore by electronic media than anything else, de lies basic human emotion, love, anger, under tanding, all are reduced to cypher. I see my woi [ a s a n attempt to remind people of a more primal brm of humanism. In a sense, I see a need to redefi ie emotion." (Continued on Pa fe 12)
Phil Klutz rick dead at 92
Nancy Noddle and Joan Kaiman, Women's Campaign co-chairs, pose with the sculpture "La Familia" by renowned Israeli sculptor Itzik Benshalom. The sculpture will be a gift from the Women's Campaign for the new entrance of the JCC.
by Diane Axler Baum
Hazzan G. Michael Horwitz has assumed the new poBt of Associate Cantor at Beth El Synagogue. Along with his wife, Heidi, he will be introduced formally to the congregation on Sept. 4, at a reception preceding Selicot Services. "I'm very enthusiastic that Hazzan Horwitz has come into our midst, bringing new ideas and 'new blood'," said Beth El's longtime Cantor Emil Berkovita. This will be onward and forward for us." The new Associate Cantor, a 1999 graduate of the Harvey L. Miller Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary, will take an active role as a clergy person and staff member. He will be especially involved with Beth El's youth. Horwitz said he was "impressed by the strong presence of the youth," during his first visit to Beth El, "When I came into the synagogue on a Saturday morning, I saw the energy and excitement and the looks on the faces of the young people. I watched (Continued on Page 7)
Jewish groups renew their call for gun control after LA. shooting
Private family services for legendary figure Philip by Daniel Kurtzman Klutznick, 92,1 were held Aug. I WASHINGTON (JTA) - This week's shooting ramPresident Clinton called the California attack 16 in Chicago. I page at a Jewish community center in California has "another senseless act of gun violence." But he The former Oma-1 prompted renewed calls for stricter gun control laws. stopped short of calling for new gun legislation, han, who gradu-1 Although few believe-sweeping changes can be saying only, "It calls on all of us not only to give our ated from I enacted, even in the wake of the string of assaults thoughts arid prayers to the victims and their famiCreighton Uni-1 across the country, some U.S. lawmakers and gun lies, but to intensify our resolve to make America a versity Law I control advocates say it is time for Congress to act safe place." School, was a I on pending legislation that would impose some Sen. Dianne Peinstein (D-Calif.) said in an interbusinessman,! restrictions on gun sales. view on the cable network MSNBC, "It's about time ambassador, cabThe Senate has already passed a juvenile justice that this nation come to grips with what's happeninet member and | bill that would subject individuals purchasing guns ing. I don't believe anymore that these are isolated civic leader. : at gun shows to background checks; ban the import incidents. As a young I of magazines with a capacity of more than 10 "What we have seen is a kind of trickle down of a man, Klutznick I rounds; and require that trigger locks or other safe- society that is awash in guns, and the guns are ridserved as the sec-I ty devices be sold with handguns. • dled throughout our society. They are easy to ond Grand Aleph But the House of Representatives, following a obtain, and anyone who is deranged or has a grievGodol (president) | _ fierce lobbying effort by the National Rifle ance can get one of these high-powered weapons and go but and do their thing." of the B'nai B'rith Philip Klutznick Association, rejected those proposals in June. Youth Organization's young men'i group (AZA) from "We have a crisis on our hands," said Sen. In the wake of last week's shooting at the North 1925-26. He went on to become tl e first recipient of Valley Jewish Community Center near Los Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). "The crisis is guns that the Sam Beber Award in 1951, es jablished in memo- Angeles, which wounded five, some Jewish activists are too easily obtained by people who shouldn't get ry of the Omahan who founded AZ A. are taking lawmakers to task. "Congress' inaction them. These mass shootings used to occur maybe In addition, Klutznick wi s International has left loopholes in our gun control laws, but more once every few years. Now they occur once every • President of B'nai B'rith, Presi lent of the World importantly it has fostered the culture of violence few weeks. Jewish Congress, founder of t ie Conference of that spawns tragic and potentially tragic events "I pray that this time Congress wakes up and Presidents of Major Jewish Ore uiizations, one of every week," said Rabbi David Saperstein, Director then stands up to the gun extremists to make this the creators of the Museum of tl e Diaspora in Tel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. country safe again for children," he added. Aviv, and President of the Memo rial Foundation of Some gun control advocates are not optimistic. "We must both mitigate the availability of guns Jewish Culture and Vice-p -esident of the and work to mend our society, to create a nation "How many of these incidents do we need as a Conference of Jewish Materia Claims Against where violence is not tolerated," he added. nation to get out of our self-denial?" asked Tom Germany. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, an umbrel- Diaz, a senior policy analyst at the WashingtonKlutznick established the Chair in Jewish la body, said in an advisory sent to its member based Violence Policy Center and author of Making Civilization at Creighton Univert ity; the funds also organizations that recent events "underscore the a Killing: The Business of Guns in-America. support the Klutznick Symposiun, an annual con- vital importance of enacting vigorous gun control Diaz, a former self-described "gun nut" who has ference held at Creighton ind the Jewish measures to keep arms out of the hands of individ- made a 180-degree turn in recent years while also Community Center. uals who threaten the safety of our children and all converting to Judaism, said he believes politicians The developer of the Oak )rook suburb of members of society." lag behind the public in their attitude toward guns. Chicago, Old Orchard Shopping Center, Water "Politicians are so paralyzed by indecision Jewish leaders slated to meet with President Tower Place, Klutznick was chai man of one of the Clinton on Thursday are likely to discuss the need because they're not confident that things have most successful development ompanies of the for gun control measures, as well as concerns about changed, and I think that the people in this country United States. the recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks from are rapidly changing their view about guns," he said. "That's the only hope I see in this." California to Illinois. (Continued on pa e2)