Jewish Press
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS VoLLXXK
No. 53
Omaha, NE
Federation community website returns by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director
15 Elul, 5760
September 15 ,2000
Dorothy Kripke dies at the age of 88
by Carol Katzman Jewish websites. Within the next After a long illness which confined with chilmonth, web her to a wheelchair, Dorothy Kripke d r e n ' s surfers can look died on Sept. 7 at the age of 88. books. The for an interactive Services were held at Beth El c o u p l e community calen- Synagogue with burial at Beth El made a dar, the Kripke Cemetery. startling Jewish Federation A prolific writer, Mrs, Kripke's books revelation Library online cat- are well known. Let's Talk About God, in 1997 alog, and a which sold more than 100,000 copies when the "What's New?" when it was published, has been used J e w i s h page. extensively in Talmud Torah class- T h e o l o Ideas for the rooms since the the mid-1950s. g i c a l community webA native of Highland Falls, NY, she Seminary site can be sub- met her future husband, Rabbi Myer announced mitted directly to me at: 334-6451 or S. Kripke, when the two were stu- it had re'*".-; ' > f e-mailed to: pmonsky<s>jewishoma- dents at the Jewish Theological ceived an " .' '. ha.org Seminary in New York City in 1932. u n p r e c *• Mrs. Kripke, a student at the edented $7 million gift to rebuild the Seminary's College of Jewish Studies, school's tower destroyed by fire in earned her degree in 1936. She also 1966. earned degrees from Hunter College The quiet, unassuming couple, who and Columbia University. were bridge-playing friends of a relaThe couple married in 1937 and tively unknown financier Warren spent the next decade in Wisconsin, Buffet and his wife, Susie, took their Long Island and Connecticut , before life savings of $5000 and invested in by Pam Monsky, Federation Communications Director arriving in Omaha in 1946 when the fledgling Berkshire Hathaway Rabbi Kripke was named as the spiri- company.. The friendship grew and so hand what Auuhitase 'Jews can do to tual leader of Beth El Synagogue. He did the investment, though the affect political change," Kushner said. Kripkes continued to live a modest life. served in that capacity until 1975. Milder feels that "Mr. Footlik's mesAll during the years her husband In addition to the gift to JTS, an sage is even more timely because of served as a pulpit rabbi and even additional half-million dollars was the nomination of Joe Lieberman as after his retirement, Mrs. Kripke condonated to the Jewish Federation's Vice-president." tinued to write. Her first two books, Campaign "Building a Jewish Footlik recently left the White Rhymes to Play and Rhymes to Pray Community for the 21st Century," House, where he served as the presiwere published in 1952. towards the relocation and expansion dent's principal liaison to the of the library. Eight more followed the commercial American Jewish community. He currently lives in Israel, where he serves success of Let's Talk About God—Let's On Nov. 19, the Dorothy and Myer as adviser to former Israeli Prime Talk About Right and Wrong, Let's Kripke Jewish Federation Library Minister Shimon Peres at the Peres Talk About Judaism, Debbie in will be formally dedicated in their Dreamland, God and the Story of honor. Center for Peace. t Dorothy Kripke is survived by her While at the White House, Footlik Judaism, Let's Talk About the Jewish 1 Holidays, Let's Talk About Loving, husband, Rabbi Myer S. Kripke; son, designed outreach strategies to promote presidential initiatives. He also Let's Talk About being Jewish, and Prof. Saul Kripke of Princeton, NJ; coordinated American participation at her last book, Let's Talk About daughter, Madeline Kripke of New JayFootlik York; and daughter~and son-in-law, historic ceremonies such as the sign- Shabbat. Yossi and Netta Kripke Stern of The New York Times Book Review Former Special Assistant to ing of the Oslo I and II agreements, Stamford, CT; grandchildren, Gil and wrote, "Publishers and authors of chilPresident William Clinton, Jay K. the Israel/Jordan Peace Treaty, and Tamar Stern of Stamford; sister and dren's books ought to study this one to Footlik, will speak to the women of the Wye River Accords. brother-in-law, Lillian and Isador see what it has that theirs don't." the Lion of Judah division ($5000+) Most recently, he helped orchestrate Weiss of Poughkeepsie, NY; sister, So extensive was her interest in and Pomegranate division ($1800- President Clinton's visit to Oslo, Adele Polan of Delmar, NY; sisterschildren's books that the Kripkes $4999) at the Major Donor's luncheon, Norway, and the first-ever trilateral in-law, Ann (Mrs. Homer) Kripke of donated $30,000 to the Jewish Sept. 25, and to members of JOLT, meeting with the newly-elected Israeli Encinitas, CA, and Dorothy (Mrs. Federation Library in 1995 to endow Jewish Omaha Leadership Training, Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Joseph) Kripke of Jerusalem, Israel. that evening. Palestinian Authority Chairman the children's book collection. Nancy Rips, then Library Board Memorials to the Kripke Jewish Maxine Kirshenbaum and Carol Yasser Arafat. Chairman, said at the dedication, "The Federation Library, Beth El Parsow are chairing the Lion of Judah Last December, Footlik was asked children's book collection is now suffiSynagogue or charity of choice. Division for the 2001 Women's to help coordinate the president's ciently endowed to purchase almost all Of her life, Mrs. Kripke said at the Campaign; Bobbie Epstein is the journey to Gaza, Jerusalem and the children's books we need." dedication of the children's book colHonorary Lion of Judah chairman. Bethlehem. lection in 1995, "I'm grateful to my In addition to her devotion to chilLeading the Pomegranate Division Both American and Israeli media are Barbara Kushner and Lois have praised Footlik's accomplish- dren's literature, Mrs. Kripke was an family for finding a way to honoring "Ducky'Milder. ments. Time magazine referred to him active volunteer for both the Women's me. And I'm immensely pleased to "We're very fortunate to have Mr. as the "best p.r. advice (money) can League for Conservative Judaism, have my name associated with chilFootlik speak to us," Kirshenbaum buy." Footlik can also be seen on Fox where she rose to the position of dren's reading. Reading is one of the said, "especially in this important News television as a frequent political national Vice-president, and Hadas- few best paths to the good life; and sah. She traveled and spoke exten- that, of course, includes Jewish life." election year. commentator. Claudia Sherman contributed Parsow agreed, adding, "I'm looking For information about the Major sively for both organizations. The charitable donations didn't stop to this article. forward to hearing the insight he will Donor luncheon or other Women's bring to the political arena." Campaign programs and events, conPomegranate co-chairs Kushner and tact Kathy McGauvran, Women's INSIDE: Central High honors alums.......<••••«••••*•*•••••*••«•••••••••••*»••••«•••••«•»•••«*»page' 8 Milder noted their pride in bringing Campaign Director, 334-6327. this high-caliber speaker to the Major "Elderhood". >••••••••••••••••»••! ...........page 9 Donorevent. (More Campaign stories Keynote speaker to address symposium Sunday night....«.....page 10 "It gives us a chance to hear firston page 12)
,-After a brief afesSiace, the Jewish Federation of Omaha community-sponsored website is back! It can be found at: www.jewishomaha.org The community can use the website to access information about Jewish agencies and organizations and contact Jewish professionals. There are also links to free e-mail Jewish greeting cards and major
Former Special Assistant to President Clinton to address Women's Campaign major donors
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