IJEWISH PRESS Vol. LXXXI
No. 19
Omaha, NE
5Shevat, 5762
January 18, 2002
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 81 YEARS
Birthright Visitors Revel in Chance to Visit Jewish state, Meet Israelis by JESSICA STEINBERG,
JERUSALEM (JTAjWearing purple, turquoise and yellow Taglit scarves, some 1500 Birthright participants cheered their way through an event marking the first installment of this year's Birthright Israel program. Taglit is the Hebrew name for the program. The word could be seen emblazoned across the dozens of buses that transported 3000 participants around Israel. The Birthright program of- Several thousand young Jews came to Israel for a one-week visit as fers a free, 10-day educa- part Birthright. The young people were visibly moved by an explanaPhoto by ISRANET. tional trip to Israel for tion of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem. any Jew aged 18-26 who hasn't gone to the Jewish Israel's tourism industry. Held Saturday night at Jerusalem's International state before on an organized tour. Convention Center, the "Mega Event" is an opporThere are 6000 participants who will be visiting tunity for Birthright participants and the proIsrael during the winter 2002 trips, some 3500 of gram's sponsors to see and acknowledge one anoththem from North America. The program initially had er. (Editor's note: Among the guides were Tiffany hoped to send more than 10,000 Jews this winter. Eisenman of Omaha; Gary Shyken led a Birthright But recruitment was difficult and cancellation rates high due to fears of terrorism that have hurt tour last winter break.)
"Birthright is a huge success because you choose to come here," said Charles Bronfman, who founded Birthright Israel with fellow philanthropist Michael Steinhardt. The packed program included speeches from dignitaries, iricludihg Israeli President Moshe Katsav. When he entered the crowded auditorium, participants burst out singing Am Yisrael Chai, clapping and waving Israeli flags handed out at the entrance. "You're fantastic, you're wonderful," said Katsav, who called upon participants to cultivate their ties with Israel and consider building their homes in the Jewish state. The event also rolled out the red carpet for the program's founders and sponsors, including Bronfman, Steinhardt, Russian-Israeli entrepreneur Lev Levayev, businessman Marc Rich, and Shari Arison, chairman of Arison Holdings, which include Carnival Cruise Lines and a majority holding in Bank Hapoalim, Israel's largest bank. Some 55 percent of this year's participants are from North America, 26% from the former Soviet Union, 10% from Latin America, 6% from Europe and 3% from Australia. For information about participation in future Birthright trips, contact the Hillel Director on your college campus, your rabbi, or Pam Monsky at the Jewish Federation, 334-6451.
Program to Guide Students, Parents on College Issues
New Keiser-Stoms Scholarship Based Primarily on Academic Excellence
by DIANE AXLER BAUM
expertise will demonstrate the Most Jewish families feel a need importance of "giving equal for guidance on matters of college weight to Jewish factors in makselection, applications, financing, '_•;*•, ing a wise college selection." and the search for a campus that . In their own sessions, junior and offers cultural and religious ,•-„ senior high-school students will belonging. - • - -j select two of three topics: Tips for To assist in the college-bound • ;; interviewing with college repreprocess, several Federation agen- „ -, * j._ sentatives and techniques for crecies are co-sponsoring "Sharpen -s ating "a focused, excellent Your Knowledge about Going to w entrance essay" will be offered by College." The program, in two Susan Paley, Director of the related but separate parts, will Melton Mini-School and adjunct take place Wednesday, Jan. 30, professor of communication at the and Thursday, Feb. 7, 7-9 pan., University of Nebraska at Omaha. at the JCC. Gary Katz, JCC program assoRichard S. Moline, Director of ciate, and Jeremy Seaver, an College Outreach for the United ",; active member of Hillel at the Synagogue of Conservative t University of Illinois, will discuss Judaism, will keynote the first a Richard Moline "Staying, Jewish and Surviving evening with a dynamic presentation in the JCC auditorium, 7-7:45 p.m. His ses- College." Sally Kaplan, Director of Clinical Services sion will feature exercises aimed at helping parents at the Child Saving Institute, will talk about and students recognize, and work toward meeting, "Picking Dates, Friends and Classes." Freshmen and sophomores will hear Dr. Steven their particular goals and needs. Moline has developed dozens of programs and ini- Skulsky; Omaha psychologist, on "Peer Pressure"; tiatives on campuses in North America and Israel and Omaha Juvenile Court Judge Larry Gendler and has published numerous articles on enhancing on "Staying Out of Trouble through Volunteerisni." Kathy Hirshman, Director of Scholarships and Jewish college life. A regional USY Director in the Educational Administration for Jewish Educational Midwest for 14 years, he is a former International and Library Services (JELS), will wrap up the president of USY and past president of the Jewish evening with brief remarks on the need to "think Youth Directors Association. He and his wife, forabout college from the first day of high school." mer Omahan Joni Crounse, have a son, Noah, 17. She will outline the requirements for receiving a At 7:50 p.m., the evening will continue with breakout sessions for students of different age JELS scholarship, such as earning good grades and groups, and parents. Moline's remarks in the par- performing volunteer service. She also will ents' breakout session will probe the often-stressful announce the new "merit scholarship" JELS will make available to a current high-school senior, issue of "Letting Go." Steve Stiel, Director of Jewish Family Service, thanks to the David Keiser and Lillian Keiser coordinated part one of the program and was Stoms Foundation Education Endowment Fund for instrumental in tapping the keynoter. Stiel Academic Excellence. (See related story.) (Continued on page 11) expressed confidence that Moline's experience and
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Foundation Pubic Relations Coordinator-
Forty to 50 students are granted college scholarships for undergraduate and graduate work each year through the Financial Aid Committee of Jewish Educational Services. Until now, all the Jewish Federation scholarships were awarded on the basis of the recipients' financial need, among other criteria. A new scholarship, the David Keiser and Lillian Keiser Stoms Foundation Education Endowment Fund for Academic Excellence, is the first Jewish Federation scholarship that will be awarded regardless of the recipients' financial status. Any Jewish high school senior who is a resident of the Omaha metropolitan area and is now enrolled in the 2001-2002 academic year can apply for the new Keiser-Stoms Scholarship. Applicants, high school grade point averages (GPA) and their SAT (or ACT) scores will be the primary measures used to determine the recipient of the scholarship, said Kathy Hirshman, Director of Scholarships and Education Administration for Jewish Educational Services. The students* Jewish involvement and activities will also be taken into consideration. Two other scholarships were also established in (Continued on page 11)
INSIDE: Where Are They Now?
page 7
Kallah Weekend Focuses on Life of -Janusz Korczak.........M.»,....,...,..»t ........page®, Unpacking on the Prairie Opening Features Storyteller Rita Paskowitz ...........page 11