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No. 8 Omaha, NE
19 Cheshvan, 5760
Pulitzer Prize - winner to speak atJCC, visit Omaha friends by Diane Axler BaunT
Glenn Frankel When Pulitzer Prize-winner Glenn Frankel presents his new book at the JCC in celebration of Jewish Book Month, the audience will include an Omaha couple who've been his friends for more than 30 years. Bill and Margo Rosen met Frankel in 1968 when all of them were students back East. Still Margo Neesman then, she was involved in Frankel's meeting Betsyellen Yager, the Smith College student who later became his wife." Over the years, the four have kept in touch with
calls, letters,-photos and an occasional visit. "In addition to being a journalist of the first rank, Glenn is a great guy," said Bill Rosen. He's funny, warm, witty—and a mensch. It's been wonderful to watch his career develop." Frankel's career reached a pinnacle in 1989 when he received the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his coverage of the Palestinian uprising. Other high points included reporting from London, Zimbabwe and South Africa, the last of which inspired him to write Rivonia's Children: Three Families and the Cost of Conscience in White South Africa. Frankel will share the sights, feelings and experiences behind the pages of Rivonia's Children at a book presentation/reception on Sunday, Nov. 7, starting at 7 p.m., in the Jewish Community Center theater. Following his remarks, he will answer questions from the audience. A dessert reception and book signing will conclude the evening. The event, sponsored by the Jewish Federation Library, is free and open to the community. In Rivonia's Children, Frankel probes South Africa's transition to democracy by focusing on the activities, personalities and revolutionary politics of three married couples who plunged into fighting the injustice of apartheid at great personal danger andjexpense. The three.cpuples are whits* 2}?ddleclass, communist and Jewitfhr ;-' • •' "" (Continued on page 6)
October 29,1999
Photographer documents dire needs in Former Soviet Union by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director
With each click of the slide projector and each story she revealed, photojournalist Sharon Faulkner tore straight to the heart of the problems in the Former Soviet Union, as seen through the eyes of the people who suffer the most.
Sharon Faulkner was in Omaha to show her dramatic photos to workers for the Federation Annual Campaign. She is pictured with Joel Alperson, General Campaign Chairman. For the past several years, Faulkner has been photographing the Jewish elderly in the FSU, and has become increasingly involved with them. Her passion for theseuvery~dignified people who happen to be in the worst circumstances is evident in her (Continued on page 14)
Time to look back:
History highlights 75th anniversary of AZA byRobYunich (Reprinted with permission from B'naiB'ritb Todajf)
sary celebration at the Marriott. Growing up is never easy. Highlighting the event will be the When young teens around the country screening of taped interviews with two step onto a strange college campus for living charter members: Bernard the first time, they often look to fraterniTheodore, now of Los Angeles, and ties and sororities as a place to meet Marion Graetz of Lincoln. The Nebraska new people and acclimate themselves to Jewish Historical Society will display the new'surroundings. Most fraternities memorabilia, and the lodge will show a and sororities have three Greek letters slide presentation of some memorable as their name, and their members wear AZA moments. those letters proudly. -" The lodge will soon send invitations to In 1922, a group, of 14 Jewish boys, its members for the celebration. They who attended Omaha's Central High will also include a survey, asking about School, wanted to join their school's frapeople's roles in AZA and B'nai B'rith ternity: Alpha Zeta Alpha. However, Girls' (BBG) and asking for memorabilia they were not allowed to join because donations. Additionally, all AZA Sweet.they were Jewish. In protest, the teens hearts will be honored. . borrowed the group's initials and started "I'm very excited that (B'nai B'rith their own Jewish fraternity: Aleph International President) Richard HeideZadikAleph(AZA). man will come visit Omaha and partici. Two years later, on May 3,1924, AZA was declared an international order. . . .• ,. . ». . , ^ »» .« • pate in the celebration," Jacobs said. Sam Beber, one of the Omaha group's Longtime B'nai B'rith International President Henry Monsky AZA has been part of B'nai B'rith for most of its history. However^ the two founders, was named Grand President of <rieht>» «» 1 9 4 5 meeting with President Harry Truman. organizations were not connected until the Supreme Advisory Council, and ter treasurer; A few months later, Sam Beber Nathan Mnookin was named the Grand First Vice- appointed Klutznick to the AZA Legislative Henry Monsky convinced the members at B'nai president. The group of Omaha boys was deemed Committee. As an adult, he was elected International B'rith's 1925 International Convention that AZA should join B'nai B'rith. Monsk/s speech that day Mother Chapter #1. President of B'nai B'rith. was not a random occurrence. In fact, Monsky was On July 4-6, 1924, the inaugural AZA National Arid nobody will forget where it all started. Convention was held a t the Omaha Jewish "I'm extremely proud that AZA was founded here involved with B'nai B'rith for most of his life. Born on Feb. 15, 1890, Monsky graduated from Community Center (the J, on 20th and Dodge): in Omaha," says Adam Jacobs, President of B'nai There were only four chapters then: Mother B'rith's Monsky Lodge in Omaha. "I base what the Creighton Law School in 1912, and then became Chapter #1, AZA #2 in Kansas City; AZA #3 in lodge attempts, to do as to further the continued president of the Omaha Hebrew Club. By 1921, he was president of B'nai B'rith District 6, one of the Lincoln; and AZA #4 in DesMoines. But by the vitality of BBYO and AZA." Mid-America Region's predecessors. time of the fourth convention two yqars later, the Jacobs and other B'nai B'rith members will have Monsky was elected president of B'nai B'rith number of chapters had exploded to 55. : • , the chance; toshow off that pride on Nov. 20, The AZA #2 in Kansas City was founded by 6:30 p.m., when the lodge hosts the 75th anniver- International in 1938, and proceeded to lead it • (Continued on page 6) Nathan Mnookin; Philip Klutznick was elected chap-