JEWISH Vol. LXXX
No. 32
Omaha, NE
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9Si¥an,576i
Junei, 2001
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 80 YEARS
by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor.
Wedding Hall Collapse in Jerusalem Leaves Dozens Dead
Seminary in New York City) is wonderful," Rabbi Kripke said in an interview upon his return to Omaha. It once housed JTS* book collection, but remained abandoned after a fire in 1966. Following the Kripke's seven million dollar gift in 1907, the tower has been rebuilt and now houses the school's high-tech long-distance learning classrooms, language labs and conference suites. Speaking in a "masterful address" according to Rabbi Kripke, Gerald Levin, CEO of AOI/Time Warner, noted that "until the 1940s. . .everything pointed to humankind going upward-fte arts, journalism, philosophy and literature. - .But we were brought to a sudden halt when we had to change our views of what humanity was capable of doing." The nest day, Rabbi Kripke was honored again,, at Grate College just outside Philadelphia. Former Omahan Rabbi Jonathan Rosenbaum, now president of Gratz, presented Rabbi Kripke with an Honorary Doctorate. Florence Melton, founder of the Melton program of Jewish studies for adults, i.-is similarly honored. "Though smaller than JTS," Rabbi Kripke added, ~t be ceremony (at Gratz) was equally impressive." Gratz is an independent college of Jewish studies, iounded in 1895 as a Hebrew teachers college. Today it offers undergraduate and graduate r \ egrees in a variety of Judaic subjects. In a private, conversation with Rabbi Kripke, The refurbished Kripke Tower at JTS now Rabbi Rosenbaum noted that "Omaha is still his house classrooms for long-distance learning. Photo by Marjorie Gertsten. favorite place to live."
A four-story wedding hall in the Talpiot district of Jerusalem collapsed late .Thursday night, killing at least 25 people. More than 300 people were reported injured, including t h e bride and groom, and scores are still reported dead or injured under the rubble this morning. This tragedy is probably the •worst civilian disaster of its type in Israel's history. (Story on page 9} Photo by ISEANKF
Kripfce Tower Dedicated at JTS; Gratz College Gives Rabbi Honorary Doctorate In a "joyous and full-blown ceremony," Rabbi Myer S. Kripke returned to his alma mater last month to celebrate the reopening of the landmark tower, now dedicated to him and bis late wife, Dorothy. "The tower itself (at the Jewish Theological
BBYO Leaving Home to Become Independent Non-profit by JULiE WIENER
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NEW YORK (JTA)-In an effort to raise funds, one of North America's oldest Jewish youth groups is loosening ties to its parent organization to become an independent non-profit. B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, following in the footsteps of Hillel: The Foundation for Campus Jewish Life, will continue to receive some funds from B'nai B'rith International but will have its own budget, fundraising apparatus and board of directors. However, according to B'nai B'rith's international president Richard Heideman, BBYO will enjoy a closer relationship with B'nai B'rith's national and local offices than Hillel does. B'nai B'rith and BBYO's teen leaders will be represented on BBYO's new board, but philanthropists, foundations and various Jewish, agencies also will be included. Board members have not yet been determined, but B'nai B'rith is not expected to hold the majority of seats. BBYOj which is 75 years old, will continue to be housed free of charge in B'nai B'rith's Washington headquarters. According to data posted on the BBYQ website, the group has approximately 11,000 members. B'nai B'rith officials say the number is closer to 20,000, and that with new funding they expect it to grow much larger. B'nai B'rith's board of governors voted Sunday to approve the change, effective "as soon as practical." Heideman called the move a "strategic plan for funding BBYO." BBYO, which is B'nai B'rith's largest single budget item, will receive $1 million annually from the group, Heideman said. That figure is approximately half of what B'nai B'rith spent on the group in 2001. In recent years, B'nai B'rith's North American membership rolls and revenues have plummeted and it has steadily cut allocations to BBYO. In March, BBYO's 39 regions learned that, due to
B'nai B'rith's financial woes, they were likely to lose all funding from the parent organization as of July 1. However, an independent BBYO is expected to be more attractive to major donors who have been frustrated by the fact that all gifts to BBYO had to be channeled through B'nai B'rith. In addition, under a new-revenue distribution B'nai B'rith adopted at the Sunday meeting, B'nai B'rith's local groups will be able to more easily raise money for their local BBYO chapters, Heideman said. It is not clear how quickly BBYO will reap the benefits, but sources within B'nai B'rith are optimistic that the more than $1 million it is cutting will be replaced by other sources in time for the July 1 start of the 2002 budget. B'nai B'rith and BBYO are in the midst of discussions with the Jewish federation umbrella, the United Jewish Communities, the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America and at least one major family foundation. The idea of becoming a separate organizationfirst announced as a possibility just a few weeks ago—generally has been welcomed by BBYO leaders. Many believe the youth group will be more appealing to donors and other partners than B'nai B'rith, which has been criticized for lacking a clear mission or purpose. Gary Saltzman, Chairman of the B'nai B'rith youth commission, said in an official statement released by B'nai B'rith that the change will help "expand BBYO so that it reaches many more of the tens of thousands of Jewish teens who have no current organizational tie to the community or to Jewish life." That statement also quoted one of BBYO's two teen presidents, Jen Kraus, as saying, "We're excited about the new arrangement because it allows more funding to help the program grow."
BBYO's New Independence has Impact on Omaha by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor
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While national funding has been slashed by 50% by its former parent organization, the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) has confidence in the tradition of support by the Omaha Jewish community. According to Rachel Shkolniek, BBYO Director, "The Omaha Cornbelt Council of BBYO is very lucky to have a supportive community. With the support of the Jewish Community Center, as well as the Henry Monsky Lodge of B'nai B'rith, we will continue to thrive in membership and programming, while providing opportunities for Jewish youth to develop their leadership potential, positive Jewish identity, and commitment to their personal development." For nearly two decades, BBYO and the Jewish Community Center have enjoyed a close connection. BBYO is housed in the JCC, which also pays for more than 75% of its operating and program expenses! In addition, scholarship funds are available to teens in need of financial assistance to attend BBYO conclaves, leadership institutes, international conventions and summer camps or trips to Israel. (Continued on page 2)
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