JEWISH PRESS VoLLXXX
No. 14 Omaha, NE
3Tevei,5761
December 29,2080
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR W YEARS
Jack Schrager Establishes Blumkin Home Switch Day Volunteers Appreciated by RBJH Fund for "That Extra Incentive" by CLAUDIA SHERMAN, Foundation Public Relations Coordinator "Omaha has teen wonderful to California. Jack Schrager creditme and my family and I would ed his wife for being "an inspiration in bringing up her children like to do something to demon-1§ in a manner which contributed strate my gratitude to the people V" to their becoming successful of this city," remarked J a c k ' . adult members of both t h e Sehrager, who moved here about|' Jewish and at large communi1945 from his native Milwaukee, '•-._ ties." Wisconsin. . •-. How he came to relocate his '. Jack and Sonia were founders family to Omaha "was j u s t a;.of the City of Hope Chapter in quirk," he said. 1 had some busi- . Omaha. He was presdent of the ness here for a temporary period "' Omaha Chapter and also a memof time." At the end of that time,' • ber of B'nai BVith, They he had "fallen in love with ; belonged to Beth El Synagogue Omaha... It seemed like a won- •• .1 and later joined Temple Israel. derfui place to raise a family." So *\ Sonia was a member of Schrager, his business partner '! Hadassah and a Gray Lady hosthe late Irv Herzog, and their '\ pital volunteer, h e r husband wives moved their families and • recalled. *She was witty and business herealways the spiee of any group." "The people vvera warm and friend- •. he added. ^People loved h e r ly," he reminisced. "They opened _• because she made them laugh." their arms and welcomed us." In 1976, Jack Schrager retired. He and Sonia moved to Palm Around 1965 or 1966, Schrager Jack and Sonia Sdhrager Springs, California, where they was involved in The Pacesetter Corporation, the home improvement giant started by had previously spent a few months each year. They his oldest son Phil in 1962. Harley Schrager, enjoyed playing golf and getting together with the youngest of Jack and his wife Sonia's three children, many Omahans who were vacationing there. About 1996, "We came back to Omaha," Schrager joined Phil at Pacesetter. Today Phil is chairman of explained, "because that's the place where we the Board and CEO, and Harley is president. The Schragers also have a daughter, ChernaLee wanted to spend the rest of our lives." (Continued on page 10} Giinick, who lives with her husband in Encino,
Staff and Residents
Volunteers from the Jewish community staffed the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Sunday night and Monday so that housekeeping, dietary and clerical staff could spend Christmas with their families. Above, Judy Brookstein and her son Mark prepare trays of cookies for the afternoon snack while Larry Brookstem and nephew Aaron Ratner pour juice for the residents. (More photos on page 10)
e Project Dreidel Chronicles by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications Director (The story you are about to read is true. The names of the family have been changed to respect their privacy. This is our last story in the Dreidel Chronicle series, and unfortunately, it will not have a happy ending.) The Project Dreidel Chronicles depict actual situations faced by real Jewish families in Omaha. "Project Dreidel" is a tzedakah program sponsored by Jewish Family Service that has been providing TTannklrah gifts and Jewish holiday meals to families in our area who cannot afford them. But sometimes families and individuals have unexpected emergencies that require immediate intervention. Jewish Family Service is there to provide the f nancial and emotional support they need to get back to normal, and that support costs moneyyear-round. Your gift'to the Jewish Federation of Photo by Jen Gates. Omaha's 2001 Annual Campaign is what allows us to take care of each other. Despite worsened and he had to leave that job this summer. In fact, Howard has a chronie and degenerative our best efforts, our community's needs continue to outpace the increase in gifts to the back condition that will never improve, no matter Annual Campaign. Your increased Campaign how many surgeries he has. With Katie and Sarah gift ensures that every Omaha Jewish com- to care for, no money coming in, and confined to his munity member will have access to profes- bed, Howard is in a very fragile position, indeed. sional and compassionate help in a Jewish Enter Jewish Family Service. environment. Director Steve Stiel accompanied volunteers to Howard Marks' life hasn't turned out the way it deliver meals to needy JFS clients for the High was supposed to. His wife died three years ago, Holy Days this year. One of the families he visited leaving him a young widower alone raising their and to which he delivered a holiday meal was two girls, Katie, 10, and Sarah, 12. That should Howard Marks. have been enough for anyone to bear, but Howard Stiel was alarmed by what he saw in the Marks' has also endured several critical back surgeries tiny rental house. The floors were bare plywood, it recently that have left him bed-ridden for weeks at looked like the sub floor had been installed and a tune. that was it. Evidently, the floor had been this way Because of the surgeries and lengthy recupera- for some time, and it was obvious there were no tion time, Howard has been unable to continue his plans to install a decent floor covering. work as a mechanic. Even though the pay was not On top of that, there was no furniture in t h e even close to the good living he made as a mechan- house except for Howard's bed. The girls slept on a ic, he took a part time job as night manager of a mattress on the floor. As if that weren't enough, West Omaha gas station. But his back problems Stiel couldn't find any food in the house — none at
all- He discovered that Katie and Sarah hadn't eaten since lunch a t school the previous day. The Marks' family was a new client to Jewish Family Service. Howard had contacted them about arranging transportation to and from his numerous doctors' appointments, and JFS had given him cab fare so he could go. The board and staff of Jewish Family Service had no idea, however, that the family's living conditions were so dire. For whatever reason, Howard never told anyone how bad things really were. As Stiel talked to Howard and the girls, he discovered that Howard's disability benefits from his mechanic's job had run out the month before. Howard was confined to his bed, recuperating from his latest surgery, so Katie and Sarah were walking to a nearby convenience store for food. The food they purchased was typically junk food, expensive junk food at that, and their funds were quickly depleted. They had run out of money about a week prior to StieTs visit, When Stiel left, he headed immediately to the grocery store and stocked their kitchen with milk, fresh fruit and vegetables and some canned goods. Back at the office, he started the process of getting (Continued o n page 10)
INSIDE; Montfely calendar.. A look at the lQ&h. Congrefij
..pages 8-9 .page 11
Qmahaa to play basketball for Maceabiah