ewish SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR MORE THAN 75 YE Vol. LXXVUl
No. 4
Omaha, NE
luiuei,wivu
"On the road again!"
^v-tober 1,1999
Sculptor opens exhibit to benefit Federation by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director
Itzik Benshalom works in his foundry, Hadera, Israel.
A line of cement trucks transformed the grounds south and east of the Jewish Community Center as the new road around the Child Development Center was poured this week. Work continues on the entrance to the Sokolof Fitness Center entrance and the CDC.
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Transforming^ community Tctfay's adoptions force new thinking in Jewish community
JFS helps local couples to become families
by Debra Nussbaum Cohen
by Carol Katzman
Itzik Benshalom, the man and the artist, is larger than life, an artistic Israeli with a remarkably gentle disposition. The artist will bring his sculptures to Beth El Synagogue on Tuesday, Oct. 5, in conjunction with the Women's Campaign luncheon. Born in Hadera, Israel, in 1945, Benshalom has had no formal art training, but has worked closely with many artists since 1967 when he set up the (Continued on page 12)
'Jewish visions of the future' to be Klutznick keynote topic
NEW YORK (JTA) - Adoption -- it's an ancient Six years and nearly $100,000 spent on fertility practice mentioned often in the Torah. But with treatments did not produce a family for one Omaha by Diane Axler Baum modern developments, adoption is transforming couple. They had tried everything~the range of A specialist on Biblical prophetic themes and ancient the Jewish community. medications that were intended to create "ideal I and contemporary A growing number of children from different ethnic conditions for conception," but instead caused sickI attitudes that backgrounds are becoming part of American Jewish ening side effects, from blood clots to depression. result in religious families, some of whom are urging a re-evaluation of Family members and friends couldn't understand I suicide will keywhat it means to look, and be, Jewish. why the couple had no children. And visits to familynote the 12th Gay and lesbian couples seem to be adopting chil- oriented events left them in tears. No one seemed to Annual Klutznick dren more than ever before, and are increasingly open understand their frustration, helplessness and "emoj Symposium. during the process, about their sexual orientations. tional roller-coaster." James D. More intermarried Jews are adopting, too. One"You think you're in control," said Janie | Tabor will exquarter of those contacting Stars of David, a Schauder (whose name has been changed to proplore "Apocalypnational'support group and information resource tect the identity of her family). "But you reach a tic Dreams and network for Jewish adoptive families, are interfaith point when the emotional expense starts to even Schemes: How couples, according to its officials. exceed the financial one." an Ancient JewAs the number of adoptions increase, liberal Jews One month after taking what would be her final ish Vision of the are increasingly seeking access to mikvahs, the rit- fertility treatment, she received a phone call. "Do Future Came to ual baths in which children are immersed as part you want to be a mom?" the friend of a lawyer Dominate t h e of most conversions to Judaism. And that, in part, asked her, noting that a baby was available. After Modern World." is prompting a growing number of Conservative Schauder stopped crying, she said yes; the baby James D. Tabor He will speak at and Reform synagogues to build them. was hers the next day. Today, the Schauder family -Adoption has become an increasingly common fact numbers five; the couple has adopted two sons the Jewish Community Center on Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. of life in the Jewish community and attitudes toward since their daughter arrived five years ago. it have changed markedly in the last two decades. It can take months, even a year or more,fromthe The event, including a dessert reception, is free What was once a process cloaked in near-secrecy is time a family decides to adopt, for a baby to arrive and open to the public, as are all the Symposium now a topic explored openly in the dozens of Jewish in their home. But the Schauders had decided to go sessions, scheduled for Oct. 9 and 11 at Creighton ahead with the "home study" process, the legal University, and Oct. 10 at the JCC. "For two adoption support groups around North America. Positive adoption stories are threaded throughout requirements and paperwork necessary before a evenings and two days, this year's Klutznick Symposium will offer a marathon of fascinating the Torah, though arrangements were generally judge can order an adoption be finalized. Adoption specialist Tanya Seina, MSW, of Jewish talks on apocalyptic and end-of-days issues surinformal, rather than legal. Moses was rescued from death by the Pharaoh's Family Service, conducts interviews with prospec- rounding the Millennium. We certainly expect the family, raised as a non-Jew only to become the tive parents to discuss their motivation to adopt, question-and-answer sessions to generate spirited redeemer of. his people from slavery. Mordechai any fertility issues, their own childhood experi- debate," said coordinator Leonard Greenspoon. Tabor is the acclaimed author of A Noble Death, raised his niece, Esther, and the Talmud docu- ences, parenting expectations and how the couple ments the positive views of adoption voiced by plans on raising their adopted child. The prospec- a study of attitudes toward religious suicide and ancient rabbinic commentators. But the.contempo- tive parents are also provided with education,, sup- martyrdom in the ancient world, and Why Waco?: rary reality isn't always as simple as the biblical port, counseling, and access to a wide variety of Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in 'stories sometimes seem, and modern attitudes do materials at JFS. In addition, JFS complies with America, which deals with the FBI's attack on the followers of David Koresh. not always measure up to Jewish tradition's ideals. all other state mandated background checks. (Continued on page 11) (Continued on page 10) ;": (Continued on page 12)