ewish Pres
W- HiST BOCIETY 1500 R ST LINCOLN HE" 68303-1651
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS VoLLXXVim
No. 19
Omaha, NE
7 Skevat, 5760
CDC makes the big move!
January 14, 2000
Alan "Ace" Greenberg to speak to major donors by Pam Monsky Federation Communications Director
Monday marked the opening of the new Pennic Z. Davis Child Development Center on the campus of the Jewish Community Center. After a hectic few weeks of packing, moving and unpacking, the CDC staff wel-
comed infants, toddlers and preschoolers to their new "home away from home." Above, preschool teachers Bettie Adams, left, and Janette Moakler show their five-year-olds their new classroom.
Federation puts a "JOLT" Avraham InfeldI to speak into leadership training Jat community preakfast by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
The first event sponsored by the the College of Jewish Omaha Leadership Training (JOLT) is a new program designed to meet the challenges of Jewish Learning Committee will feature Melitz future leadership for the Omaha Jewish communi- founder Avraham Infeld, and will be held ty JOLT is a 10 month Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 a.m., in the JCC ] course to prepare com- Auditorium. The College of Jewish. Learning ' munity members to lead Committee is headed by Leonard Greenspoon and • d Jewish Omaha into the SteveRiekes. . - next century. Infeld is the founder and president of the Melitz » Although JOLT is Centers for Zionist Education in Jerusalem. Born i sponsored by the Jewish in S.outh Africa, he immigrated to Israel in 1959. Federation of Omaha, its He has dedicated his life to Jewish and Zionist edupurpose is to serve the cation in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. entire Jewish communiMelitz is a non-profit educational service instituty, including synagogues tion, seeking to foster a Jewish identity that is rooted and other Jewish organi- in a pluralistic understanding of Jewish life and the zations. centrality of Israel. It aims to revitalize the relationSusie Norton Susie Norton, JOLT ship between Israel and the Diaspora, creating a conchairman, said, "I believe that our community structive and realistic understanding of both. (Continued on page 12) needs a program that not: only focuses on leadership, but Jewish leadership. I'm honored and thrilled to be involved with a project that the federation places in such high regard." JOLT Steering Committee memberg are Susie Lehr, Scott Meyerson and Patty Nogg. The JOLT Advisory Committee consists of Sandy Epstein, Bob Freeman and Ann Goldstein. "Our community and our needs are changing rapidly," said Federation Executive Director Jan Perelman.'Decisions made by our volunteer lead-. : ership affect millions of dollars and hundreds of lives. These decisions set the course of our Jewish future. We all have a vested interest-in ensuring that our leaders bring the highest possible level of skill and information to the decision-making table." Jewish professionals and lay leaders held sessions to decide on the content of the course and to suggest names of people who would benefit from ... JOLT. Twenty-five individuals were selected who ;.' exemplify the leadership qualities vital to Jewish life in Omaha. At the completion of the program, each participant, will be placed or continue to serve Avraham Infeld, founder and president of • on local Jewish boards or committees.-"The inaugur- • Melitz, and Jan Perelman, Executive al session for JOLT will be "Jewish Identity: Who Director of the Jewish Federation, met on a Am I?" with Avraham Infeld, Tuesday, Jan. 18. mission to Israel last year. ..' •'••
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The Chairman of Bear Sterns Investments, Alan "Ace" Greenberg, will be in Omaha next week to speak to major donors of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Introducing Greenberg at the Jan. 19 luncheon will be Omaha's own Warren Buffett. Greenberg is known on Wall Street for his successful management style, which is immortalized in a book of his memorandums, Memos from the Chairman. He is also a noted philanthropist and supports many Jewish causes. Pacesetter Chairmen Bob Kully and Joe Kirshenbaum are looking forward lo the lunAlan "Ace" Greenberg c h e o n with.Greenberg. • "We are very fortunate to have Ace come to Omaha and speak to our Pacesetters. This will be an event to remember, especially with Warren Buffett doing the introduction! We are proud to be able to bring this exclusive event to our major donors," they said. For more information, call Kathy Watkins in the Federation office at 334-6432.
Mort Richards dies at age 90 Former Omahan, businessman and philan;_ thropist Morton A. Richards died Jan 8 at his home in Laguna Hills, CA, at the age of 90. Services were held Wednesday at Beth El Cemetery in Omaha. Richards was born in Omaha and graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He joined Riekes and Sons in 1932 when he married Ruth Riekes. Her brothers, Max and Henry Riekes, and their father, Samuel, distributed glass and metal containers and, later, plastic. Richards added material handling to the business in 1939. The company went public in 1970 and was bought by Alco Standard in 1975. , Richards' contribution to the Jewish and general communities of Omaha is almost legendary. He served as a member of the boards of directors of many non-profit and for-profit concerns, including United States. National Bank (now Norwest), Omaha Savings and Loan and American Charter, the Jewish Federation of Omaha (where he served in the capacity of vice-president, secretary and treasurer), Beth El Synagogue and the Milton S. and Corinne Livingston Foundation. : Richards also served as secretary and president of Downtown Rotary, president of the Nebraska Humane Society (at the time of building at 90th and Fort), president of Performing Artists/Omaha. He also was a member of the boards of the Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital, Douglas/Sarpy County Red Cross, National Conference of Community and Justice, and Omaha Industrial Foundation. In 1991, Richards was honored with the Endowment Achievement Award by the Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. He was instrumental in founding the original, Endowment Fund Board and established two of its (Continued on page 12)