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SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS - TEENAGE VoLLXXK
No. 35
Omaha, NE
au rsissan, 57bO
Who will remember? by Carol Katzman After the candlelighting, the readings, the prayers, the musical elegies, more than 300 members of Omaha's Jewish community listened attentively as educator Gloria Kaslow asked the question, "Who will remember the Holocaust after the survivors are gone?" Gathering at Beth El Synagogue for the annual YomHaShoah remembrance, the crowd nodded silently as participants of the March of the Living spoke about each survivor who lit one of the yellow candles memorializing the six million who died during the Holocaust. "When I walked down the streets of Krakow, past the house where my grandma lived some 78 years ago, I was amazed at her strength," said Ryan Tichauer about his grandmother, Helena. Others (Continued on page 12)
Survivors who participated in the candlelighting ceremony were: Helena Tichauer, Jack Diamond, Helen Manheimer, Fred Kader, Hilda Gottlieb and Tom Jaeger.
May 12, 2000
Sandy and Paul Epstein to chair Federation Annual Meeting by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
Longtime volunteers growth," added his wife, Sandy and Paul Epstein Sandy. "We are so very will chair the 96th Annual pleased to be a part of this Meeting of the Jewish evening." Federation of Omaha on Both Paul and Sandy June 26, 7:30 pan., at the have a long and distinJewish Community Center. guished volunteer career in the Jewish community. This meeting is the time Sandy has been involved the community will gather with the Federation, first to honor volunteers with as a worker and captain, awards for outstanding then as a division leader services and programs. and, finally, as Women's Among the awards to be Campaign Co-chairman in presented are: Human1997. That same year, itarian of the Year, ComPaul co-chaired the Genmunity Service Award, eral Campaign; he curCenters of Excellence rently serves as President Volunteers of the Year, of Temple Israel. He has Justin Greenberg and Lois also served on the FederJ. Schrager Young Leaderation Board as Treasurer ship Awards, and the and as a member of the Teen Leadership Award. Executive Committee. In addition, outgoing board members and presiSandy has also been a dents from the Centers of longtime volunteer for the Sandy and Paul Epstein Excellence will be honored National Council of as the incoming members are installed. A special Jewish Women, Omaha Section, as a Vice-presivideo highlighting the accomplishments and spe- dent, member of the board of directors and as chairwoman of Dictionary Day. cial moments of the year will also be featured. "It's so important for people in Omaha to see the . .The entire-community is invited to attend the great things that are happening in our Jewish com- Annual Meeting. Upcoming articles will announce the winners of the awards and profile volunteers. munity," Paul Epstein said. "This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate For more information, call Kathy McGauvran in those who made the past year one of incredible the Federation office, 334-6427.
In its 53rd year, Israel continues to ask, 'Who am I?' by Avi Machlis
JERUSALEM (JTA) - As Israelis prepare to fire up their grills for thenIndependence Day barbecue ritual on Israel's 52nd birthday this week, the existential debates that dominate the public agenda are almost sure to get lost in the clouds of smoke. But amid the smog that will descend upon the country, there is also a feeling that in Israel's 53rd year, an • intense debate about the nature of the Jewish state and the future of Zionism will heat up. "The attempt to find a middle road between a Jewish and democratic state will be the essence of the ongoing public debate over Jewish and Israeli identity," said Moshe Lissak, professor emeritus of sociology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. . "But I don't think that Israeli society is ripe for these discussions because as long as diplomatic arrangements with her neighbors have not been secured, it will be difficult to address these issues in a rational way." .Experts say that after the barbecues are doused, the debate about the nature of the Jewish state will proceed along two main paths. First, the very fundamental definition of Israel as a Jewish state is likely to face sharper challenges than ever before from Israeli ArabB, who make
up 20 percent of Israel's population of 6 million. Second, the struggle between religious and secular segments of society toward defining what it means to be a Jewish state will be played out in new ways. , The impetus for the Arab challenge was provided nearly two months ago, when the Qadan family from the Galilee won the right from Israel's High Court of Justice to build a home in Katzir, a Jewish community established by the Jewish Agency for Israel. With that landmark decision, the Supreme Court shattered one of the fundamental tenets of modern Zionism, which sought to secure land exclusively for Jews. While ruling that it was illegal to discriminate against Arabs in land allocation, the court insisted this did not clash with the Jewish nature of the state. In fact, Justice Aharon Barak argued that the "Jewish character of the state did not permit Israel to discriminate between its citizens. In Israel, Jews and non-Jews are citizens with equal rights and responsibilities." . The ruling injected a new sense of self-confidence into Israel's Arab community, which says it suffers from widespread discrimination in areas such as employment and government funding. (Continued on page 10)
Omaha celebrated Israeli. Inde- the Maxwell Street Klszawsr Photos by SteoeBeumr. pendence Day, Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Band. with inflatables in the JCC gym. Hundreds turned out to listen to (More photos on pages 10 anAlL$