ewish Pres
H!:-,l SOCIETY MF 63508-1651,
SPECIAL PRE-HIGH HOLIDAY FOOD ISSUE : VoL LXXVI
No. SO Omaha, NE
29Elul, 5769
JCC fitness center opens
September 3,1999
Partnership 2000 programs soon to appear in Omaha by Carol Katzman
Opening to "rave reviews," according to Jewish Community. Center Executive Director Jeffrey Aizenberg, the new Sokolof Health and.Fitness Center is now available for current and prospective members of the JCC. Boasting a banked oval track with two walking lanes and two lanes for runners, the fitness center also offers weight-training equipment and three levels of cardio-vascular machines. Specialized equipment is available for the disabled for both exercise and weight training. For information about the fitness center, JCC programs or membership, contact Lisa Shkolnick at Member Services at 334-6425.
Basketball team plays at Maccabi games in Houston
The girls' basketball team included, back row, from left: Emily Gordon, Coach Bob Franzese, Hannah Wolf, Sasha Skulsky, Michele Simon, and parent Phil Wolf; front row: Lindsay Itkin, Sierra Gendelman, Emily Muskin and Kate Josephson.
"We didn't win medals, but it was pure excitement for both the boys and girls," said Bob Franzese, Basketball Director at the Jewish Community Center. "* His sentiment was echoed by Phil Wolf, co-coach for the girls team, upon the return to Omaha recently from the Aug. 9-13 Maccabi Games in Houston. • Eight girls, ages 13-15, won four games and lost two and although they came home without medals, "they did very well and the Omaha Jewish community should be proud of the team," said Mr. Wolf. He said this was one of the youngest teams in the competition and they are all looking forward to an opportunity to play next year in Tucson. Members of the girls team are Sierra Gendelman, Michelle Simon, Emily Muskin, Emily Gordon, Sasha Skulsky, Hannah Wolf, Kate Josephson and Lindsay Itkito. "The boys," their coach said, "must have practiced 3040 times, getting up at 6:30 a.m. all summer long, but this trip was a reward for their hard effort." They won four games and lost one. Ranging from ages 13-16, the boys team includes Slava Etus, Ed Makarov, Cory Epstein, Matt Kelberg, Adam Rosen, Adam Freeman, Alex Shekhtman and Vitaliy Tsyrlin. ,-.-..
High Holiday Fair this Sunday at JCC Join Omaha's rabbis for classes on the High Holidays, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Beveridge Junior High School will be the first Omaha school to participate in a Partnership 2000 project with the Ghetto Fighters' House Yad LaYeled (Children's Museum) in Israel's Western Galilee, according to educator and former Omahan Beth Seldin Dotan. She was in Omaha recently to visit her parents, Ted and Sarah Seldin, and to meet with Bob Wolfson, Executive Director of the Anti-Defamation League, who is helping her coordinate this project locally. A seventh-grade class at Beveridge will read the same books, either The Sandgame or the Island on Bird'Street, as their Israeli counterparts, each in their own language. Both books are by Uri Orlev, a child survivor of the Holocaust and award-winning Israeli author. Students will then discuss the book with one another, via the internet, and work on projects together. The pilot project has already been implemented in Teaneck, NJ; Atlanta, GA; New York City; and Solomon Schecter schools on the East Coast, as well as in several other Partnership 2000 (P2K) schools in the Midwest Consortium-in Dallas, TX; Louisville, KY; and Akron, OH. "We're delighted to be working with Melissa Prohaska, teacher of the seventh grade class at Beveridge," Dotan noted, adding that Principal Cara Riggs has "been very supportive." Dotan explained that the follow-up projects, based on the two books, can be in a variety of areas—drama, creative writing, computer work. "This, gives teachers options, depending on the type of students they may have-in.a-particular class," Dotan said. "After all, there are different learning styles, whether a student is Israeli or . American. In addition to the creative aspect, this particular Holocaust project gives students a view of history from the point of view of adolescents, Dotan noted. (Continued on page 12)
Temple Israel launches journey groups Synagogue 2000 (S2K), a nationwide program among 21 selected Reform and Conservative congregations from across the country, is reinventing the concept of the synagogue. Temple Israel is one of the participating congregations. The program aims to make synagogues more than just places of worship; they are communities, sources of comfort and helpful resources and places to feel connected with others, as well as have fun. In the spirit of S2K, Temple Israel is launching Jewish Journey Groups. Topics for these groups can be educational, spiritual or emotional. The groups are unique because they are small and informal, short in duration and have the added dimensions of sharing, prayer and music. We are pleased to announce the following inaugural groups: Living With Illness—For people living with an illness or love someone who is. Jewish Spirituality—tJsing ancient and modern texts, participants will gain a deeper level of soul and a better sense of spirituality.
"The Sabbath," by Abraham Joshua Heschel—The book "The Sabbath," will be used to gain familiarity with Heschel and his insightful understanding of sacred tune. Ancient Israel-A Historical Perspective—A comparative study of the history of the Jews during the biblical period, using the Bible versus standard texts. All meetings will take place at Temple Israel. For further information, call Temple at 556-6536.