Jewish Press
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS Vol. LXXEX
No. 50
Omaha, NE
24 Av, 5760
August 25, 2000
2001 Campaign begins with motivated leaders by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
Scientist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt t h a t a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Mead's quote perfectly fits this year's Campaign theme of ] Together, We Can Change the World. The 2001 Jewish Federation of Omaha's Joe Kirshenbaum Annual Campaign Leadership are a thoughtful and committed group of Jewish citizens who are ready to help change our world. Joe Kirshenbaum and Bob Kully will lead the General Campaign, and David Goldstein and Jerry Kohll are heading up the Men's Pacesetter Division. Leslie "Cookie" Hoberman and Sharee Newman are the Women's Division Co-Chairs and Maxine Kirshenbaum and Carol Parsow are Lion of Judah (gifts of $5,000 and above to the Annual Campaign) Co-chairs. Bobbie Epstein serves as Honorary Lion of J u d a h Chairperson. Last year, the 2000 Annual Campaign raised $3.1 million. Joe Kirshenbaum is one of Omaha's most involved and passionate Jewish leaders. In addition to having co-chaired the Federation Annual Campaign in 1977, he served as Pacesetter Co-Chairman with Bob Kully for the 2000 Campaign. In June of 2000, he was named the 1999 Humanitarian of the Year, the community's highest honor. Kirshenbaum's other notable accomplishments include: fund-raising Chairman for the Beth Israel Synagogue building project, President of Beth Israel, Chairman of the Dr. Sher Home and Blumkin Home, Chairman of the Jewish Education Committee, President of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Livingston Plaza, the Federation Foundation, and State Chairman for Israel Bonds. When asked why he keeps his Jewish involvement level so high, Kirshenbaum responded, "It's in all of our best interests to keep Jewish life in
return on their investment, or 'ROF as it's known, I like to work towards ROC - Return on Community. I believe donating to the Jewish Federation of Omaha gives our donors the biggest ROC." Kirshenbaum and Kully also went to Minsk and Israel in Bob Kully Cookie Hoberman Sharee Newman J a n u a r y , 1998, as Omaha vibrant and growing. I've learned and part of a fact-finding mission for the Jewish Agency received so much from the Jewish people of (JAFI). That mission allowed both men to see firstOmaha. It's important to me to give back." hand the poverty, hunger and loneliness that affect a Bob Kully also has a long history of Jewish phil- majority of the Jewish elderly in the former Soviet anthropy. In addition to serving as the 2000 Union, and it continues to be a motivator for their Pacesetter Co-Chairman, he is the current Jewish communal service. President of the Milton S. and Corrine R. Rounding out the General Campaign leadership as Livingston Foundation and serves on the Jewish Pacesetter Division Co-chairmen are David Goldstein Federation Foundation Board. He was the and Jerry Kohll. (Pacesetter consists of donors who Pacesetter Co-chair in 1990 and General Campaign contribute $6000 or more to the Campaign.) Co-chair in 1991 and has been active at Temple As for the reason Goldstein decided to co-chair Israel, serving on their board. He is also on the the Pacesetter Division, he said, "Over the years, board of the Anti-Defamation League as well*as the I've witnessed so many of our community leaders, Executive Committee of the Omaha Chamber of whom I respect and admire, give their time and Commerce Small Business Council. energy to chair this division. Their having done so, Kully said, "While some people always look for a one could hardly question the importance of such an endeavor. It's mostly because of them I feel it's right to take my turn." Kohll agreed, adding, "I really want to make a difference for my children. Working on the Campaign allows me to get to know a number of people and learn about their needs and concerns. With that knowledge and information, we can better serve the Omaha Jewish community." To kick off the 2001 Pacesetter Campaign, a firstever Golf Outing is being held for all members of the division on Monday, Sept. 11, at Chili Greens Golf Center. A free golf tournament will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., followed by a briefing and reception in the Chili Greens banquet room. Jerry Kohll David Goldstein (Continued on page 2)
Forum explores ethical implications of fetal tissue research by Sara Juster
The issue of medical research using fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions came to public attention last year after it was reported in the local media. Several members of the Nebraska Unicameral then introduced legislation which would have banned its use in research at any Nebraska college or university. This controversial subject will be the topic of a community forum on Monday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center. Featuring Rabbi Aryeh Azriel of Temple Israel, Rabbi Paul Drazen of Beth El Synagogue and Rabbi Howard Kutner of Beth Israel Synagogue, the educational forum will address the ethical implications of this research within Jewish law. The rabbis will discuss under what circumstances such research is permissible and why they support its continuation. A researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who has been personally involved with the project, will also speak, along with Nebraska
University Regent Drew Miller, an outspoken proponent of the continuation of such research. Lincolnite John Breslow, Miller's opponent in the Nov. 7 general election, has also been invited. The event is sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women, Omaha Section, B'nai B'rith, the Anti-Defamation League-Community Relations Committee, and Jewish Educational and Library Services (JELS). Though the proposed ban on fetal tissue research did not pass, several state senators have vowed to reintroduce it in the next legislative session. Many groups, including NCJW, actively opposed the ban which would have effectively ended much of the medical research at Nebraska's University system. Despite the importance of this research, several senators fought passionately against it. Their arguments were, in the end, as much about university procedures, as the use of fetal tissue. A number of candidates for University Regent have also spoken
against the research; if they win in the general election, they could ban the research, even if the legislature defeats the ban in the 2001 session. This particular project investigating neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinsons and Alzheimer's, helped earn a Fulbright Scholar Award for one of its major researchers, Dr. Howard Gendelman. Though he and his family spent a month in Israel this summer, he hopes to return later this year to continue his research at the Weizmann Institute. The UNMC representative will explain the goals of the research and how the project is pursued. Members of the community will have the opportunity to ask questions of Dr. Cohen, Drew Miller and the rabbis, and learn both the facts about this controversial research as well as what the interpretation of halacha (Jewish law) says. For more information, contact Carolyn Novicoff, Executive Director of JELS, at 334-6560