ewish Press SERVING NEBRASKAAND WESTERN IOWA FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS Vol. LXXVm
No. 6 Omaha, NE
Million dollar gift to Temple Israel endows adult Jewish learning by Carol Katzman
An unprecedented gift of one million dollars to Temple Israel was announced by Dr. Eugene "Speedy" Zweiback this week to honor the memory of his late wife, Hermene, who died last month. The gift established the Hermene Zweiback Center for lifelong Jewish Learning, an ambitious annual plan of educational programs, classes and.events. An avid supporter of adult education and a regular participant at Temple, Hermene envisioned a comprehensive program of Jewish learning. About three years ago, the Zweibacks initiated a conversation with then- son, Josh, to make that dream a reality. The first Reform rabbi ever hired specifically for adult education, Rabbi Josh Zweiback suggested to his parents and Temple's, senior rabbi, Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, that Temple invite Prof. Sara Lee and Isa Aron to conduct "community conversations" with adults for whom the program would be targeted. Lee and Aron both teach at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, the same school at which. Rabbi Zweiback pbtained_a master's degree in Jewish education "before receiving his ordination as a rabbi. ••'•'• "Hermene was already a regular learner before I came to Omaha 11.years ago," Rabbi Azriel noted. "We both understood that this community was concentrating so much on edu- This four-color brochure announced the inauguration of cating its children that we were missing out on the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish the adults." Learning at Temple Israel. All programs and events are Dr. Zweiback raised the question, "If Mom open to the community. The cover drawing was created and Dad aren't involved (in synagogue life and by Lee Needelman. Photos of ritual objects by Jen Gates. Jewish education), then will their children ty of bright, educated people. Yet we can sit in serbecome 'High Holiday* Jews?" vices next to someone with a doctorate who can With the guidance of Lee and Aron, Rabbi Azriel formed a committee to start the process. In addi- barely read Hebrew. "Many Jews are uncomfortable in synagogue tion to the "community conversations," which because of that lack of knowledge," Zweiback coninvolved more than 300 people, calls were made nationwide to 10-12 other synagogues, which tinued, "and are too embarrassed to admit it." Acknowledging Hermene's admonition that "it's already had successful adult education programs. Several issues were raised during the year-long tough to build a group dedicated to adult Jewish committee exploration, not 'Who is a Jew?' the education," one of the serious questions asked by more-frequently asked question, but 'What is a the committee was "How do adults learn?" The 17-person committee, chaired by Donna Jew?' Zweiback paraphrased author and Nobel Greenberg, discovered that adults, like children, Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel with the answer. : "Wiesel said 'A good Jew is someone who wants to have different learning styles. Some are visual be a better Jew,1" and added, "We have a communi- learners and want a hands-on experience; others
might come to one film or discussion group; still others will commit to short-term textbased classes. The 12-page brochure for the Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning reflects those different learning styles and offers, in Rabbi Azriel's words, "a smorgasbord of learning opportunities." Classes, which started last week, range from on-going explorations of tefdlah, prayer,, with both Rabbi Azriel and Rabbi Debbie Stiel, to scholar-in-residence weekends in December, March and April with Dr. Ruth Langer, Dr. David Ellenson and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. In addition to those more traditional .offerings, the Center for Lifelong Learning will also offer one-time-only lectures to a targeted group: parents and their children. Three of those events include appearances by Dr. Mary Pipher on Nov. 10, Rabbi Aaron Panken on March 8, 2000, and Rabbi Dennis Eisner on April 12, 2000. Understanding the need to vary the ways in which adult education is presented, Temple has also scheduled two Jewish Identity courses using film and short stories, taught by David Yudelson, and several musical Shabbatot...one with Cantor Jennifer Blum and the Kol Rina choir on Jan. 21, 2000, and a jazz Shabbat with a return visit by composer Mark Bloom on March 20, 2000. "It's a gradual process," Dr. Zweiback admitted. "The whole purpose is to narrow the gap between the educational levels of our adults and have the parents, in turn, impact their children. (Continued on page 14) ',
Hermene Zweiback
Dr. Eugene "Speedy" Zweiback
AZA to celebrate milestone anniversary by Lois Epstein
The 75th anniversary of AZA will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 20, in the place where it was born, here in Omaha. This celebration will be a magnificent event" said Dr. David Finkle, Chairman of the Anniversary Committee. "It will be an evening of celebration and memory," stated Adam Jacobs, President of Henry Monsky B'nai B'rith, which is hosting the event that includes a dinner at the Marriott Hotel. The International B'nai B'rith Youth Commission and the Mid-America, Region of B'nai B'rith will hold their annual meetings in conjunction with the 75th anniversary celebration. This will bring to Omaha.leaders of B'nai
Al Abramson
David Finkle
Steve Riekes
i B'rith and BBYO from throughout I the country. , "This is fitting since AZA was I founded in Omaha by Sam Beber in 1924, said:Steve Riekes, Program I Co-chairman. ' "From the beginning, Omaha has I always had a strong AZA, and now I BBYO," he added. According to Al Abramson, ProI gram Co-chairman, International I President of B'nai B'rith, Richard I Heideman, will deliver the keynote 1 address; Andy Lowenstein, I International Aleph Godol (President) of AZA will bring greetings. (Continued on page 9)