VoJ.LXXX
No. 2
Omaha, HE
m
7 Ttshrei, 57S1
October 6,2006
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 80 YEARS
ADL-CRC to Open Holocaust Resource Center
Pennie Z. Davis Sets Up New Funds for CDCand JFS
by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor • pated," Dotaa explained How do you explain the Holocaust to a child? in a recent interview. The event is so horrific, so beyond the comprehension of most adults, that attempts to answer "Not only did we have to have often seemed simplistic—and dissatisfying—to add staff, but we found those wiio've tried. For decades, this question has ourselves involved in perplexed educators, religious leaders, survivors more training in Ohio, and others. The restdts certainly include the life of New Jersey, New York— Anne Frank, whose diary is often included in midand in Omaha, 3 where dle school curriculum, and the occasional presentaBeveridge Middle School tion by a survivor or a military rescuer. And most in the Omaha Public often, Jews are only portrayed as victims. School District is involved with the project. But now the Great Plains office of the Anti_ , , „ , , . " , '"'~ In addition, the Ghetto Defamation League-Community Relations Beth Seldm Dotan, „. , , u , , , , Committee has another approach. Building on Holocaust Center T J ~ I ~ ~ . . . ^ n~JZ? Rghters House is located their past success with A World of Difference and Director in the Western Galilee, the Prejudice Elimination Workshop, the ADL-CRC the region paired with will shortly open a Holocaust resource center adjaOmaha in Partnership 2000. P2K, as iffs more comcent to its office in Omaha. It's not just another library, or a depository of monly known, takes some $600,000 of Anneal materials for local teachers to use in Holocaust Federation Campaign dollars from an 11-eity conclasses. Instead the center will focus on teaching sortium, which includes Omaha. The first MidwestConsortium was chaired by Omahaa Bobbie this unique event from many different angles, one Epstein and brought the "people-to-people" reality way being through the eyes of a child. It's no acci- of allocations in Israel back to the communities dent that Beth Seldin Dotan will be the center's funding the projects. first director. P2K and the Omaha connection to Dotan eventuDotaa, a native Oniahan, made aiiyah to Israel ally raised the inevitable question — why not run sis years ago with her sabra husband, Ainnon, to the reading project from Omaha? Now, thanks to a the kihbute where lie grew up, Ayelet HaShachar generous grant from Denverite Bob Sturm, a forin the Galilee. About three years ago, she became a mer Omahan himself, the International Bookprofessional educator with Yad I/Yeled, the chil- Sharing Project will have a home in Omaha. dren's museum of the Ghetto Fighters House. "Bob has a passion for the issue of Holocaust eduA reading project, using two books about the cation," noted Bob Wolfson, Executive Director of Holocaust, written from a child's viewpoint, became the Great Plains Eegion of ADL. "He feels an affinithe basis of this international project, pairing ty for his roots in Omaha and we're very grateful schools in Israel with those in the United States, for this generous gift. It will enable us to make a South Africa and Sweden. commitment to the project to fit the needs of educa"The project grew more quickly than we antici(Contimied on page 15)
fay CLAUDIA SHERMAN, Foundation Pubic Relations Coordinator •————
eenberq Comes to Omaha by RACHEL SHKOLNiCK, JCC Programming Associate
The Jewish Cultural Arts Council (JCAC) is hosting a screening of Aviva Kempner's award-winning film, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, on Sunday, Oct. 29, and will be preceded by baseball related events, games, and food in the gym and auditorium at the Jewish Community Center. Hank Greenberg was the son of Jewish immigrants who played baseball with the Detroit Tigers in the 1930s and 40s. Every day, despite his incredible talents, Greenberg had to combat name-calling and prejudicial r e m a r k s . Some of the antiSemitism came from other ballplayers, and some came from Tigers fans in Detroit. Nevertheless, Greenberg triumphed as he came close to breaking Babe Ruth's home run record, with 58 home runs in 1938. He became the first man to win most valuable player awards at two positions, first base and left field, and become baseball's first $100,000 player. In 1934, Greenberg made the decision to attend Yom Kippur Services as opposed to helping his team win the pennant race. As a result of this, he became a hero not only in the Jewish community, but also in the American community at large. "Hank Greenberg Comes to Omaha," will take place on Sunday, Oct. 29, 5-9 pan., at the JCC. In order to honor Hammerin' Hank, baseball related activities will be held in the gym, and stadium-style food will be served in the auditorium from 5-6:45 p.m. The screening of The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg will begin at 1 pan., in the JCC Theatre.
The film has been shown all around the United States and has been described as a humorous and nostalgic account of how Hank Greenberg became an American hero. The film has won numerous awards, including the Audience Award in the Hamptons International Film Festival and Washington Jewish Film Festival, as well as the Spirit Award for Best Sports Documentary at the International Sports Video and Film Awards. This program has received generous funding from the Esther K. Newman/Carolyn Kully Newman Funds and Avy L. and Roberta L. Miller Foundation by Iindsey Miller Lennan. Ticket packages for the entire day's activities are being sold in advance at the following discounted rates. For more information, call me at 334-6403. To make your reservations, contact JCC Member Services at 334-3426.
TICKET INFORMATION Family pack
Advance Day Reservations of Event
Includes movie, activities, food for two adults, two children Add! children, each Single tickets Adults movie/activities Children movie/activities Food package
"Omaha is a great, beautiful city," emphasized Pennie Z. Davis, who has lived here since 1940. *It*s where I've always wanted to raise my family." Originally from Minneapolis. MM. Davis was transferred to Omaha in 1940 by *my Uncle Sam," he smiled. While ia the military service. Davis bought meat at the leading meat packing centers In Omaha and Kansas City for the U.S. Army. In 1945, after he was discharged, Davis was asked by his father-in-law, Herman Cohen, who was t h e founder of G r e a t e r Omaha Packing Company, to join t h e firm. Davis eventually became CEO of the company. Over the years, Daws has been involved with and supported Beth El Synagogue where he has been a member since 1945. He has also served two terms on the Jewish Federation Foundation Board of Trustees. A few years ago, Davis said, Susie Drazen (who was then the director of the former Bureau of Jewish Education) inspired Mm to set up the Davis Institute for Jewish Educators for the professional educational enrichment of teachers in Omaha's Jewish schools. At the suggestion of Gloria Kaslow and Joyce Cohen, both p a s t presidents of the Jewish Federation library, Davis "set aside some funds" to be used by the library. Simply put, "I enjoy being able to share," he said. The University of Nebraska Foundation has also been the recipient of his generosity through a faculty research award which Davis funded for students enrolled in the College of Nursing. Davis has been impressed by the care and devotion of the staff of the Jewish Community Center's (JCC) Child Development Center (CDC) for the past 10 years. He remarked that he was aware of the expertise of Dinah Rafuls who was the CDC director at the time, in working with the children at the CDC and with his own grandchildren. He was impressed by "how well the teachers treated my oldest granddaughter, Lauren, and I was elated that she could be left in their care." (Continued on page 16}
INSIDE: Human Rights Activist.—.-...
$20 $3
$25 $4.
$3 $2 $3
$4 $3
$4
page 7
Taimudic Tales by Claudia Sherman.................m....,.MM.page 10 Election 2000: interviews with Ben Nelson., and Don Stenberg......«.^......M«..,...pages 12-13 Photos from Women's Campaign and JOLT events—.....,,.....,,...... pages 14-15