'JEWISH PRBS VoLLXXX
No. 26
Omaha, NE
2GN!san,57S1
April 13, 2001
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 80 YEARS
Nebraska Jewish Communities Commemorate Holocaust by JEWISH PRESS News Service,
Lincoln Sponsors Ceremony at the State Capital
Anna Rosmus is t h e keynote speaker. The annual state-wide commemoration of the Holocaust will be Thursday, April 19, 7:30 p.m., at the Capitol Rotunda, according to chairman Marcia Kushner, an active volunteer in Lincoln's Jewish community. Governor Mike Johannes and Mayor Don Wesley will present remarks. Senator Marian Price is the sponsoring senator. The keynote speaker is Anna Rosmus, who was the subject of a "60 Minutes" segment last April and inspired the 1989 Osear-nominated film The Nasty Girl. Born and raised in a small Bavarian town, as a high school student she wanted to write a paper on her town's history during World War I I . She found barriers placed before her when she tried to learn what happened to her town's Jewish population during the War, as well as what part the town's leaders played in carrying out the Holocaust. Instead of writing a two-page paper, Rosmus became involved with an ongoing crusade to have this Bavarian community take ownership for its role in carrying out Hitler's plan to exterminate the Jews. She began the process of documenting the history (Continued on page 20)
Dr. Haceiie Weiman to Speak at Yom HaShoah in Omaha This year's Yom HaShoah Commemoration at • Temple Israel on Wednesday, April ir 25, 7 p.m., will fea- t" ture keynote speaker Dr. Racelle Weiman, Director of the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education in Cincinnati. Dr. Weiman will address the Omaha Jewish community on the topic "Human Dignity and the Value of Human Life." Dr. Raeelle Weinoan Dr. Weiman is the first director of this international center dedicated to Holocaust educational outreach and training. Prior to assuming her new position, she was a lecturer at the University of Haifa, Israel, where she specialized in courses on interfaith relations and Holocaust studies. She lectures to professional organizations and leads seminars around the world. Dr. Weiman earned her doctorate a t the Department of Religion at Temple University, Philadelphia, in the field of the Holocaust and Interfaith Relations. She is an active member of civic organizations that are devoted to issues of human rights, pluralism, interfaith dialogue and global ethics. In 1976, she immigrated to Israel and married a former Soviet dissident. In addition to the keynote address, the evening will feature readings and songs by the congregational rabbis and cantors and a candlelighting ceremony. For further information, contact Corey Kirshenbaum, Assistant Director of the Jewish Community Center, at 334-6418. This program is sponsored by the Jewish Cultural Arts Council.
Beth Israel Board Updates Membership on New Building by BETH COHEN, Executive Director
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At a congregational dinner last month, Beth Israel members received an update of the fundraising efforts toward the building of a new synagogue. After opening remarks by Rabbi Howard Kutner, Rick Katzman, co-chairman of the New building Committee (along with Dr. Paul Shyken), and Joe Kirshenbaum, Fundraising Chairman, made their presentations. Katzman displayed a fundraising booklet, detailing the plans for the new building, including the floor plan. He also unveiled the dedication opportunities available to contributors, ranging from $500,000 to name the Sanctuary or Chapel to $100,000 for the Sukkah Court or the Nursery to $36,000 for a multi-purpose room. Dedication opportunities also include $5000 for a Torah mantle, $2500 for a mezuzah and $1800 for a pew. "To date, with pledges and contributions made by members of the Fundraising Committee, a local foundation and a number of other individuals, the New Building Fund s t a n d s at $1,000,000," Kirshenbaum announced.
The projected expenses for the project is estimated at three million dollars for all architectural and constructions expenses. In addition, the committee hopes to secure another half-a-million dollars to establish a building endowment fund to provide for the maintenance, upkeep and future upgrades of the new building. Congregants were informed that each family will be solicited individually, explained Katzman. "It is the hope of the committee that every member of Beth Israel Synagogue will participate in the fundraising efforts," he added. • The membership has approved construction pending the commitment of all funds needed to complete the new building. "Our goalis to secure all the funds needed by late summer," Kirshenbaum stated, "and.to break ground at 126th and Pacific during the fall of 2001." For a complete listing of dedication opportunities, contact the synagogue office, 1-402-556-6288, or email: BetMsrael@noviaaiet.
Temple Israel Presents Rabbi Marvin Tokayer, Expert in the History of the Jews in the Far East by JEWISH PRESS Ne^s Service — — — — Raconteur, world traveler and historian, Rabbi Marvin Tokayer will speak at Temple Israel April 27-29. He will explore the theme.Tepper, Silk and Ivory: The Exotic Jews of China, Japan and India," One of the leading authorities on the Jewish experience in Asia, Eabbi Tokayer served as U.S. Air Force Chaplain in Japan-following his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish. Theological Seminary. He received bis bachelor's degree from Yeshiva University and also has a master's degree and Doctor of Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Following Ms discharge from the service, he served as the rabbi of the Jewish community of Japan from 1968 to 1981 and was Vice-president of the Federation of the Jewish Communities of Southeast Asia and the Far-East. He is curreatiy the rabbi of North Shore Hebrew Academy Synagogue in New York and speaks throughout North AmericaRabbi Tokayer is the author of 26 books in Japanese on Judaica and Japan. He wrote one book in English, The Fugu Plan, which tells the incredible story of Japan's "unsung Sdhindler* and the European Jews who sought haven in Asia during World War II. Rabbi Tokayer is an eloquent speaker with an unusual wit who has a unique understanding of the Jews in Asia.
Rabbi Marvin Tokayer In.addition to his duties as a congregational rabbi and bis speaking schedule as a scholar-inresidence, Kabbi Tokayer also leads tours of India, China, Japan and Hong Kong from a Jewish perspective. He is planning a trip to China this July. The schedule for the Scholar-in-Residence weekend is: Friday, April 27, 8 p.m. - "Pepper, Silk and Ivory: The Exotic Jews of China, Japan and India"; Saturday, April 28, 4 p.m. - "The Fugu Plan: The Untold Story of the Japanese and Jews During World War II s ; S u n d a y , A p r i l 29,10 a.m. - "The Oriental Mystery- The Lost Tribes of Israel in Japan." The weekend is sponsored by the Samuel and Ida Kaiman Endowment Fund. For more information, call the Temple office, 556-6536.
SNS10E: Teen Age Jewish Teen Athletes Jewish Men Needed For Cancer Study
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