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SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS Vol. LXXEX
No. 37 Omaha, NE
21Iyyar,5760
May 26,2000
Carolyn Novicoff Community to honor Rabbi Flax appointed toheadJELS by Carol Katzman
Longtime Omaha educator Carolyn Novicoff has been hired as Executive Director of Jewish Educational and Library Services, according to Mitzi Delman, JELS President. (JELS combined the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Jewish Federation Library two years ago.) The position, which has been vacant for more than a year, supervises Jewish educational programs and activities, including the Community Teacher program, special needs education, scholarships, and Israel teen programs. In addition, the Dorothy and Myer Kripke Jewish Federation Library now falls within JELS' purvue. For more than 22 years Novicoff was associated with Boys Town, starting as a core teacher in 1978 and working her way up to Associate Executive Director of Boys Town USA in 1998. She was responsible for the operation of all youth care programs and issues in the 12 Boys Town USA sites around the country.
Every three years, the U.S. Air Force has "rotated" a new Jewish chaplain into the Greater Omaha area to provide services to its military personnel at Offutt Air Force Base. When Major Ira Flax leaves with his family in July for San Antonio, TX, it will be the first time in years that the base will be without a chaplain. And, according to local rabbis, educators and friends, Rabbi Flax's departure will be a huge loss to the Omaha Jewish community. To celebrate his three years of community service, a dinner will be held Thursday, June 1, 6 p.m., in the Jewish Community Center auditorium, prior to the Friedel Jewish Academy graduation program. The dinner is sponsored by the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, the College of Jewish Learning, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Henry Monsky Lodge of B'nai B'rith and the Friedel Jewish Academy. In addition, all the rabbis and synagogues are cosponsors, including: Beth El, Beth Israel, Beyt Shalom, Temple Israel and Chabad of Nebraska; Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, Rabbi Paul Drazen, Rabbi Mendel Katzman, Rabbi Howard Kutner and Rabbi Debbie Stiel. Organizing the event are: Gary Javitch, President of Monsky Lodge; Steve Riekes, College of Jewish Learning; and Michael Linn, Headmaster of Friedel. The dinner is $10 per person. For reservations, call: Laurie Grasso in the Federation Foundation "Office by May 30 at 334-6439. ,, /.
According to Rabbi Paul Drazen of Beth El.Synagogue, Rabbi Flax's presence here "shows what happens when you have someone at Offutt whose cooperative spirit brings the military and civilian communities together. Rabbi Ira Flax There's no question that he will be missed," Rabbi Drazen added. In addition to his duties as an Air Force Chaplain, Rabbi Flax taught the Derekh Torah class for Jewish Educational and Library Services and lectured for the College of Jewish Learning. The Derekh Torah class is aimed at Jews who wish to deepen their understanding of Judaism and for non-Jews involved in interfaith relationships who are contemplating conversion. "The students who have been in Rabbi Flax's classes could not get enough of him," said Mike (Continued on page 11)
YWCA honors eight women, including Amy Friedman and Judy Gotsdiner by Holly Alexander
counsel to the companies' investment division, including the origination and maintenance of its $800. million commercial lending portfolio. Outside work, her life ' models her dedication to multicultural values. From an Asian Christian family, she is married to Gary Gotsdiner of European Jewish descent; the couple to Wednesday, June 7, adopted two Korean chil12:30 p.m., at the Holiday dren, Kate, 12, and JesInn Central, 72nd and salyn, 9. Grover. According to steerAs a commissioner ing committee chairman Pat appointed to the Nebraska Manion, "We have found Equal Opportunity Comthat May is so full of gradumission by Governor Ben ations that people feel there Nelson in 1997, she has are too many events and we Amy Friedman Judy Gotsdiner reviewed and rendered need to accommodate more received many awards for publications. decisions regarding cases of alleged discrimination than 700 people." Before joining Millard schools, Friedman was the throughout the state. She has also served as a volAmy Friedman was selected for the Communications Category. As a young mother, she co-authored State Communications Director for the American unteer with the Omaha YWCA and was elected to a parenting book with Karen Javitch, entitled Heart Association, where she designed major cam- the YWCA of the USA Board in 1996. Gotsdiner serves on the boards of the National Mother Knows Best, now in its second printing. She paigns on heart disease and stroke risk targeting currently works as Communications Director for women and African-Americans. In 1992, she won Conference of Community and Justice and the the Millard Public Schools, Nebraska's third the National Heart Association Roma Betts Award Omaha Children's Museum and is a past board memof Excellence, given to one communications director ber of United Way of the Midlands. She was honored largest school district. . as the Outstanding Asian Woman of the Year by the Friedman was responsible for the ad campaign each year. Friedman has also been active as a volunteer with Nebraska Women of Color Conference and has parfor the $89 million school bond issue in 1997. This was the largest bond issue ever proposed in the Jewish Family Service, the Henry Doorly Zoo and the ticipated in the Greater Omaha Chamber of state until that time. With "We Like Millard" as its Omaha Symphony. She and her husband, Sandy,, Commerce Leadership Omaha Program. Tickets for the event are $35 each. For more theme, and hundreds of volunteers, the bond issue have, two children, Andrea and Dustin. Attorney Judy Zaiman Gotsdiner is First Vice- information or to reserve, call the YWCA at 345passed with 52% voting in favor. As a result of the campaign, she was named Administrator of the president, counsel and assistant secretary at the 6555. Year by the Millard Education Foundation and has Mutual of Omaha Companies. She provides legal Eight "Women of Vision" will be honored at the annual YWCA Tribute to Women luncheon: Amy Friedman, Judy Zaiman Gotsdiner, Jane Hill, Kathleen Vance, Dr. Joanne R. Carlson, Pamela K. WatanabeGerdes, Mary M. HengBraun and Carol Russell. The event was moved from its traditional time in May