February 1, 2002

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Suicide Bombers Injure Hundreds in Tel A viv and Jerusalem

Chuck Monasee Dies Suddenly

by JEWISH PRESS News Service—

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A suicide attack took place on Jerusalem's Jaffa Road one day after a suicide bomber injured 14 in Tel Aviv. This latest terror bomb was detonated near the Sbarro restaurant on

the corner of King George Street, just 20 meters from the site of a suicide bombing last August in which 15 people were killed and dozens wounded.

Photo by ISRANET.

Enron's 401 (k) Calamity Volunteers Can Benefit

by MICHAEL W. LYNCH — — — — from Fax Planning "The human impact is staggering," writes CNN's

—-

Businessman, humanitarian and community leader Charles (Chuck) Monasee died after hip replacement surgery on Jan. 22 in Scottsdale AZ. He was 77. Services were held in Scottsdale.

A memorial service will be held in Omaha on T h u r s d a y , F e b . 7r a t 1 p.m. at Temple Israel. , ^ Monasee came to J/ •<§g1 Omaha's Strategic Air ?1 Command base in 1953, serving in the United Jji' States Air Force. A grad- ;;§ uate of the University of t~$ Chicago, he joined Hinky '» Dinky grocery stores, owned by Jules Newman and his sons, in 1955. He worked his way up from Director of Engineering and Director of Operations to President, President of the American Community Stores Corporation, and Executive Vice-president of the Cullum Companies of Dallas, TX, which had purchased Hinky Dinky. He also served as President of the Eiekes Group before retiring.

Monasee's contributions to the community, however, were probably more well known. He served as President of several community organizations, Bill Press of the Enron collapse. Press details the by CONRAD TEITELL, Editor including the Jewish Community Center, the losses to investors and loss of jobs before landing Taxw/se Giving • Jewish Press and His Majesty's Council/Knights of on the 401(k) wipeout. "Those 11,000 employees (Editor's note: Conrad TeitelL is outside legal Ak-Sar-Ben, United Way, and the Joslyn Art whose 401(k) funds were invested exclusively in counsel to United Jewish Communities and pubMuseum, and was Co-chairman of the National Enron -- and who were forbidden by Enron's own lishes a monthly newsletter, from which the followConference of Community and Justice. rules from diversifying - today have no retirement ing article was adapted. The Foundation of the He has been honored by the NCCJ, Creighton plan at all."

Jewish Federation of Omaha sponsored his appearUniversity, given the Humanitarian Award (along The misinformation is staggering as well. ance in Omaha in November.) with Ike Friedman) of Siena-Francis House, and Nothing that Press, a Democratic hack who earns Charitable organizations greatly appreciate the honored as the Jewish Federation's Humanitarian his living turning every world event to partisan time, energy and out-of-pocket costs volunteers of the Year, among others. advantage, says about the 401(k) plan is true. devote. The federal government appreciates your The Montgomery, AL, native is probably best Eleven thousand employees participated in efforts too, and treats some of your cost as charitaknown for his leadership of the JCC from 1972-74, Enron's plan, which offered a range of investment ble contributions that you can deduct on your when the organization undertook the move from options. These employees were not invested exclu- income tax return if you itemize. the old 20th and Dodge St. location to its current sively in Enron stock, and they were not forbidden You may deduct un-reimbursed expenses that campus on 132nd St. from diversifying. It is illegal for a company to you incur incidental to your volunteer work. So In an interview in the Sept. 17, 1993, issue of the force any employee to use more than 1% of salary fares spent in going from home to the office of the Jewish Press, saluting the 20th anniversary of the to purchase stock, and as a practical matter, none organization for which you volunteer (or other JCC's building, Monasee described his role, along do. places where you render services), phone calls, with Norman Batt, also a JCC president, in raising Press's claims are extreme, but not wildly unrep- postage stamps, stationery, and similar out-offunds, planning and dedicating the new building: resentative of others made about Enron's 401(k) pocket costs are deductible as charitable donations.

This was "Omaha's major post-War event," a disaster. And people are demanding action.

You may deduct 14tf** per mile on your 2001 tax huge" task.

New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has return in lieu of computing the cost of operating "Everyone wanted to have for Omaha the same used Enron to call into question the whole idea of your car while doing volunteer work. If you use the things Houston had, but Houston had 25,000 defined-contribution pensions. "It's easy to make cents-per-mile method, you may also deduct your Jews," he was quoted as saying. "The fundraising the theoretical case for defined-contribution plans," un-reimbursed parking and toll cost. Be sure to campaign, which raised $4 million, was launched writes Krugman. But he later adds that "the sad keep good odometer records. If you prefer, you can by a gift of $50,000 from the Newman family." He fate of Enron's employees highlights the difference deduct your actual allowable expenses for gas and also recalled, "with deep sadness" the untimely between theory and practice." oil (tolls and parking too) provided you keep proper death of Nick Newman, then President of the He's not alone. "One issue raised by the whole records (canceled checks, travel diary). How_ever, Jewish Federation, "who did not live to see the layEnron debacle is how realistic is the concept of do- insurance and depreciation on your car aren't ing of the cornerstone on May 13,1973." it-yourself investing," Karen Ferguson, Director of deductible.

In addition to his leadership of the above-named the Pension Rights Center, told The New York If you travel as a volunteer and must be away organizations, Monasee also served on the boards Times, from home overnight, reasonable payments for of Methodist Hospital, Boys Town, Boys Clubs, And members of Congress have rushed to legis- meals and lodging, as well as your transportation NCCJ, Temple Israel, the Jewish Federation, and late our way to financial safety. In the Senate, Jon cost, are deductible. Your out-of-pocket cost at a the SAC Consultation Committee.

Corzine (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) want to convention connected with your volunteer work are (Continued on page 2) limit the amount of employer stock that can be deductible only if you're chosen to represent your held in 401(k) plans to 20 percent of the total synagogue, Jewish organization, the Federation, investment. In the House, Peter Deutsch (D-FL) alumni body, etc.

INSIDE: To deduct un-reimbursed expenditure of $250 or and Gene Green (D-TX) want to set the cap at 10%.

Here are some facts. Enron maintained a rather more, you must substantiate the deduction with a WR.I Hosts its First Retreat page 8 typical 401(k) plan for a company of its size. It written receipt and have the receipt in hand before offered a selection of 20 investment options, Enron you file your income tax return. If you file your Rabbi Resnicoff Speaks at Beth Ei page 9 stock being one among them. It matched 50% of return after the due date (or after an extended due employee contributions up to 6% of salary with date), the receipt must nonetheless have been in TeenAge y&go 13 Enron stock. (And remember, the employee's own your hand by the due date (plus any extensions). contribution didn't have to be invested in Enron A volunteer who has un-reimbursed expenditures Informational Articles on Tax and stock.) of $250 or more while providing volunteer services Financial Planning, starting. r..page 14 (Continued on page 14) (Continued on page 14)

Page 4

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 1, 2002

Money Makes the World Go 'Round

EDITORIAL

A series of editorials published in this newspaper entitled "The Cost of Being Jewish", brought more response than any other editorial printed in the past six years. The issue should not be considered closed, however, nor should it be a signal to merely 'give up' rather than find creative ways to fund current and future needs of this community.

This week's special issue, Tax and Financial Planning, provides informative articles and advertisements from a variety of sources: insurance agents, financial planners, attorneys and accountants, banks, and our government. It's just the kind of information readers need to assist them in planning their families' financialfuture, as well as opening up possibilities for funding programs and services they want to ensure for future generations.

For example, our previous editorials noted the concerns expressed by the cost of $50,000 a year for a loved one to receive the care and personal attention provided by the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home.

Barbara Gottlieb, who left just this week for her new position in Pittsburgh, pointed out that not only will long-term insurance provide financial

Dry B#ties

security for the family of a Blumkin Home resident, it also ensures that the Home-can cover its costs.

In addition, she and JVJarty Backs, Director of the Federation Foundation, have urged families to consider creating endowments for the Home which will help offset other costs, from employee conferences and continuing education to programs and capital needs. Other Centers of Excellence require longterm funding of annual programs which would also benefit from specific endowment funds. Some of those might include the creation of a million dollar scholarship fund for the JCC, which would enable 80 or more Jewish families to receive a 50% reduction in their annual membership without forcing the JCC to just "eat" the difference.

The possibilities are endless and the donor can realize both the tax benefits today as well as seeing those dollars work for families in need. Marty Ricks would be happy to meet anyone, anywhere at anytime to listen and advise! Just call him at 334-6440.

While we wait for the U.S. economy to improve, we can all benefit from improved tax and financial planning. Read on!

How Convenient a Location

by DAVID BEDEIN, Israel Resource News Agency —

our dog. We walked past our neighbor, who told us I returned to Ben Gurion Airport on Friday.

The woman at passport control recognized me as that her aunt, Sara Hamburger, 79, had been shot a frequently flying reporter, and immediately to death on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem a few days informed me of the latest bomb in Tel Aviv, as she before. stamped the passport.

Sara had survived the massacre in Hebron in While waiting for luggage, I went to the nearest 1929 when she was five years old; only to be decaptelephone to call my oldest son Noam, 19, who itated by a PLO officer with an M-16 on Jaffa Road. serves in the IDF as a forward observer for an At Shabbat dinner- we decided not to discuss terartillery unit at Mount Dov, Israel's northernmost ror, and instead chose to discuss Bishalach, the border post that overlooks Lebanon and Syria. weekly portion of the Torah which dealt with the Noam had experienced his first day of combat the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea and the hint previous day of the imminent Tu B'shvat, the holiday of Eretz Noam watched as Arabs prepared their artillery Yisrael. for attack, witnessed their artillery attack and was Not surprisingly, I fell asleep at the Shabbat ordered to guard his post while the IDF responded table. With Shabbat jet lag, I woke up and decided with an artillery barrage. The IDF was not allowed to do some Torah study at 2 a.m. While sitting at to react until the Arabs opened up with their the empty Shabbat table, my seven-year-old Meira artillery. asked if I would come to her. She said she wanted Coming home on the Egged bus to Jerusalem, we to tell me something. heard the account of the terror attack at the Tel She said she had a dream that an Arab started Aviv bus station. The situation of 10 wounded peo- killing people at her Bat Mitzvah. The scene of an ple in Tel Aviv hospitals. Reactions from Israeli Arab killer shooting wildly at a Bat Mitzvah celegovernment officials. Celebrations in Arab cities. bration the week before was fresh in her mind.

Getting off the bus to walk home, I met my waitMeira said that she was afraid. ing children, who helped me with my suitcases, and All I could tell Meira was we hoped that by the

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time of her Bat Mitzvah, all the Arab killers would be dead.

Returning to the office in Jerusalem on Sunday, I was answering two telephones at once and did not hear the commotion on the street. I suddenly looked up to a visiting correspondent from Germany, Adriana, who was white as a ghost. She had just seen the bomb go off on Jaffa Road.

The last time that Adriana was here she had seen a bomb go off at the Sbarro restaurant. We went to Jaffa Road, since we knew that reporters would be allowed to visit the scene.

We snapped our cameras and spoke with shopkeepers, while municipal workers cleaned up the rubble, religious clerics looked for body parts, and inspectors surveyed the damage. One scene caught our eye—a peace symbol surrounded by smoking debris, exactly where the killer had blown herself up.

And down the street, off of Jaffa Road at 4 ShlomoTzion HaMalka, we found an office of the Alternative Information Center where the PLO carries on its meetings with the Israeli Left, only 150 meters from the latest PLO terror bomb.

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Secretary; Steve Simon, Treasurer; Lloyd Roitstein, Immediate Past-chairman; Elyce Azriel; Jill Belmont; Jean Duitch; Kip Gordman; Gary Kudym; Bobbi Leibowit.7,; Howard K. Marcus; Linda Saltzman; Howard Silber; Amee Zetzman; George Schapiro (Honorary Committee Member).

Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Committee, the Jewish Federation of Omaha or the Omaha Jewish Community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit letters and articles for space and content.

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February 1, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 5

Anyone Want to Buy a Bank?

by CARL ALPERT

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Haifa-It is not common knowledge that the government of Israel is the proprietor of, or the owner of controlling shares in scores and scores of industries which in other countries are normally in private hands. The list here includes the electric company, several banks (Bank Leumi and Discount Bank), the national airline, El Al, a shipping line, the telephone company and many more.

A variety of circumstances brought this about, often because the government acted to bail out concerns which were about to go under. Whatever the cause, the government is now anxious to divest itself of these holdings, both to get the state out of business, and to reap the income which will come from the sales.

Such divestiture is not so easy, for a variety of reasons. For one thing, the powerful labor unions are opposed, realizing that private owners would implement a more efficient administration in place of the bureaucratic bosses appointed by government politicians.

An immediate consequence would be a trimming of the bloated employment rolls. In the case of the electric company, the union is so powerful, with the ability to shut down the whole country, that privatization is practically out of the question.

The case of the banks is different. They are doing relatively well, and there are potential customers in the offing. One possibility is to offer shares of the bank on the stock market, available to everyone, and thereby assure a wide public holding.

Competition for acquisition of the shares would simply add to the government's income.

But would that assure a responsible management? The feeling is that the sale should be made to a reputable individual or group. One requirement suggested is that the purchaser must have a personal capitalization of a billion and a half dollars. If there is more than one prospective buyer, let them bid against each other, nd if the price offered for the bank seems unsatisfactory, the government need not make the sale.

The proposed sale of El Al presents different problems. For one thing, the company is today operating at a loss, with the government covering the annual deficit. Of course this is an additional reason for the state to get out of the business, which constitutes a drain on the national treasury.

But a company which operates at a loss is hardly attractive to would-be buyers. However, private investors might believe that they could operate at a profit if there is no government control, which today prohibits the airline from flying on the Sabbath. This restriction does indeed mean millions of dollars in lost income.

The point is made that another reason for the operation at a loss is the extra expense caused by the company's strict security arrangements. On the other hand, that very fact should encourage more passengers to fly El Al in these days of fear of terrorism.

Here, too, there is a labor problem.

The employees are opposed to the sale on the grounds that the government has for a long time not made the required periodic payments into their retirement fund. The sum involved is millions of dollars, with dispute as to the exact amount due.

Further, the employees demand that they be enabled to buy 10% of the stock at a favorable price. For that matter, the Association of Travel Agents is also interested in acquiring shares.

But there is another and overriding factor.

It is recalled that during the Gulf War in 1991 all foreign airlines suspended their flights to Israel.

Only El Al kept flying, thus preserving contact with the outside world. In the event of another emergency, a privately owned El Al would not be influenced by factors of national concern.

Consideration of the sale has been on the agenda for about 10 years. During Netanyahu's regime it had been recommended to sell only 49% of the company. Prime Minister Barak had favored 100%.

Today's Minister of Transportation, Ephraim Sneh, is also in favor of a full sale.

There are many assets which the government is

anxious to convert into cash. In addition to those already mentioned there are otfler banks, the Oil Refineries, Israel Aviation Industries, Israel Chemicals, the National Oil Company and even the government hospitals, though there do not seem to be any prospective buyers for the latter.

In summary, national security, economic factors and labor problems must all be taken into consideration in getting the government out of business.

To the Editor: We visited Israel during winter break with our three young children. In addition to visiting family, we traveled from the Golan Heights to the Red Sea, from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean. The diversity and beauty in'this tiny country (one-tenth the size of Nebraska ) is amazing. What is also amazing is the misinformation with which we Americans are constantly bombarded.

First, Israel is a very safe country: people live their lives just as we do, kids play outside in their neighborhoods, and there is very little violent crime. Second, there has been incredible growth in all areas of the country over the past 15 years.

Despite what many would have us believe, the growth of Arab villages is astounding. Finally, we spent one day visiting friends in the town of Oranit in the hills of Judea, also known as the West Bank.

Within the town, there were numerous vacant lots.

When I asked why they were vacant, it was explained that the Arabs who owned them did not want to sell. So much for the myth of Israeli confiscation of Arab land on which to build settlements!

The reality is that the Israelis have built a modern, beautiful democratic nation in the midst of a desert. Their neighbors are jealous and will do anything to destroy what they can't have. See for yourself; visit Israel and you will understand. Don't let terror and propaganda claim victory.

Sara Jiister

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 1, 2002

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OMAHA CENTER FOR TORAH LEARNING Lunch'n Learn continues with a review of the weekly Torah portion. Join Allan Gonsher on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 12-1 p.m., in the Kripke Jewish Federation Library for a discussion of Parsha Mishpatim, Laws and Shekelim; and Bob Oberman on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 12-1 pan., for a discussion on Parsha Terurnah, Torah: Best Merchandise. Bring a sack lunch; discussion starts at 12:15 pan.

For information about upcoming OCTL programs, call Allan Gonsher, 330-4014 or 558-2767.

B'NAI B'RITH BREADBREAKERS John Miller, trial attorney and former member of the City Council, will speak about mediation on

Wednesday, Feb. 6, noon, at the Park Inn

by DEiDRE EVANS — , — — .

Imagine if Esther had to have a winning joke instead of winning beauty!

Along with celebrating the New Moon of the Hebrew month of Adar, Hiddush Levanah, the Jewish Women's New Moon Group, is sponsoring a Club Purim Comedy Central on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2-4 p.m., at the home of Karen Pollak, 1315 So. 155th St. "Bring your favorite Jewish joke," reminded Club emcee Rini Gonsher, "and I'll tell it for you, if you can't get up in front of a crowd!"

Light refreshmentf,will be served at t h e event, which is spon- ,-:." sored by Jewish Educa- '•' tional and Library Services. For more information, call Elli Green- 4.

5' . spoon at 384-9890, or me ' *> at 551-9005. i Gonsher

Regency, according to chairman Ken Weiner.

Lunch is $9; beverage service only, $2. The event is open to the community.

Y.E.S. Members will meet Monday at the JCC. Play bingo at 10:15 aan. with Eileen Reiner, or exercise with Stacey Paskert at 10:30 a.m. Bring articles to share for "YES Talk" at 11 aan. Following lunch at noon, a docent from the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society will lead us through the exhibit Unpacking on the Prairie: Jewish Women in the Beth Israel Hosts Dinner Series Upper Midwest. For transportation, call 330-4272.

Make reservations with Maggie Conti at 334-6521.

Reminders: Deadline is Feb. 7 for Lunch and Movie on Feb. 14. Deadline is Feb. 14 for the day trip to the IMAX and Greek Islands restaurant on Feb. 21; for Bluffs Run on Feb. 28, the deadline is Feb. 21; and for the Purim Party on Feb. 25, the deadline is Feb. 18..

WALK-IN, DROP-IN Members will meet Thursday at the JCC. Exercise starts at 10 a.m. in the social hall. For those going on the day trip to Jack and Mary's Restaurant, please meet at the JCC main entrance at 10:45 a.m. For transportation, call Maggie Conti at 334-6521.

YIDDISH CLUB Lomir Redn Yiddish-Let Us Speak Yiddish-will meet Thursday, 1-3 pan., at the JCC. For more information, call Anne Kolkin at 343-1638. ?•;.-• VISIONS jj Let's meet the pioneers on Wednesday, March 6, in the JCC auditorium. Join us for a box lunch at 11:30 a.m. (optional), $5.50 per person. At noon, Jeff Kappeler of the Nebraska Humanities Committee will speak on "Ho For America!

Northern European Immigrants to the Midwest in the 19th Century." At 1 pan., a docent from the NJHS will guide us through the exhibit Unpacking on the Prairie. Send reservations to Marilyn Fried, As part of a series of ethnic dinners, about 70 2821 So. 76th Ave., Omaha, NE 68124. Deadline is people gathered at Beth Israel recently for a Chinese feast. Top photo: Joan Kraft, left, Feb. 28. wife of City Council member and speaker Join us for a Mississippi Cruise from July 22-25.

Mark Kraft, and Howard Gendelman. Bottom Send reservations to Betty Sanford at 9205 photo: Also attending were Ida Banner, left, Western St., #127, Omaha, NE 68114.

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Eliot Banner, Milt Parker and Gary Parker.

BIRiHS Julie and Thor Rosenquist announce the Dec. 20 birth of their son, Eitan Daniel.

Eitan has a brother, Asher Samuel, 3.

Grandparents are Silvia and Larry Roffman and Pat and Jim Rosenquist.

Great-grandparents are Debbi and Arthur Greene, Evelyn Ahlstrand, and the late Ruth Roffman Shapiro.

by ART GROSSMAN

We may have within the ranks of the OT/YES the most politically-sawy seniors in this area.

On Jan. 21, the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we reviewed the stirring "I Have a Dream" speech that rocked the country and paved the road to civil rights legislation. Add to One of the.largest broad-based tax cuts in history has that a discussion about Nebraska's unicameral batrecently been signed into law. Experts agree that this legRoger and Stephanie Edheimer of Highland tle to curb the highly-disagreeable filibuster tactics islation will create exciting new opportunities for building and preserving wealth. Talk to a Prudential financial Park, IL, announce the Jan. 3 birth of their son, that slow down the work of the legislature. professional today to learn how you can benefit.

Michael David.

Other topics included Nebraska's budgetary prob• Should you change your investments to take advantage of Income Michael has two sisters, Emily, 6, and Allison, 4. lems which may require an increase in various tax reductions?

• How will increased retirement plan limits allow you to build savings?

Grandparents are Mark and Dora Goldstrom of taxes. And the deepening trouble between Israel • How should you prepare for the estate tax changes?

Omaha, and Joyce and Henry Edheimer of and Palestinians has put "peace" on the back burn' How can you capitalize on new education-funding tax incentives?

Cleveland, OH. er again.

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Great-grandmothers are Anne Gerber and Betty At the conclusion of the general meeting and Joseph M. John, CLU .

Goldstrom of Omaha. lunch, it turned into Game Day, Win $$ or as comPruco Securities Registered Representative monly recognized as Bingo. Only this was Musical 440 Regency Pkwy., Suite 150 Bart and Jordana Nissen announce the June Bingo, with our talented Eileen Remer vocalizing Omaha, NE 68114• 402-926-2850 30 birth of their son, Isaac Jacob. the titles of the songs. We can't compete with the Isaac has three brothers, Brett, 15, Aaron, 6, high sums of cash the casinos can offer with their Prudential C | | Financial and Joshua, .2, and a sister, Sydney, 10. games, but our players have just as much fun.

Securities products and services aro offered through Pruco Securities Corporation.

The Prudential Insurance Company ol America, and Pruco Securities Corporation Grandparents are Stanley and Ellie Kurtzman of (member SIPC), 76I Broad SI., Nswark, NJ 07102-3777. Prudential Financial is a We stood in reverent respect in memory of Eudice service mark of Prudential, Newark, NJ, and its affiliates. Neither The Prudential Sunrise, FL, Charles Nissen of Tampa, FL, and Canar, Leah Bratter and Harold Farber.

Insurance Company ol America, Pruco Securitiss Corporation, nor its repesonU' lives render tax or legal advice. You should consult with your accountant, tan advi-y Barbara Poldervaart of Lake Monroe, FL. ^aor or lawyer concerning your particular oircumstancoa. IFS-20O1O713-AO63978 ~1/ Shalom.

How will the recent tax cut affect your long-term plans?

February 1, 2002

OTYG Welcomes Everyone to Spaghetti Dinner and Auction

by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Temple Israel Communications Coordinator——— It'll be an evening of pasta and prizes at the annual Omaha Temple Youth Group (OTYG) spaghetti dinner on Sunday, Feb. 10, 5 p.m., at jTemple "«-*»-,.„? I s r a e l .

OTYG hosts the dinner and an auction each year to raise money for C a m p Rainbow a n d Allie Willensky, left, a former counselor at Camp Rainbow, helps a camper with arts and crafts. . rnine Janet Baaek, OTYG treasurer and chairman of the dinner, said early-donated auction items include two College World Series tickets; two University of Nebraska Cornhusker football tickets (to a game of the winner's choice); artwork; two hours of tutoring for ACT or SAT testing; a United Airlines ticket to anywhere in the country, donated

by Travel Connection; a moonwalk to be delivered to a child's party, donated by Fun Services; a winetasting party for 15 at Spirit World; and a variety of gift certificates from several restaurants. She said the entire community is welcome to attend.

Jim Farber, a member of Temple, will be the guest auctioneer. Proceeds will be contributed to children who want to attend Camp Rainbow, a oneweek summer camp for youngsters who have life threatening diseases. Over the years, OTYG members have been selected to be counselors at the camp, which is in Missouri.

Funds raised at the dinner will also be used to help pay for programs and events planned by OTYG throughout the year. The youth group's goal is to raise $6,000 at the dinner from both a silent and a live auction of goods and services. There will also be activities for young children in another room.

Reservations are due by Monday, Feb. 4, by calling the Temple office at 556-6536. Cost is $8 for adults, and $4 for children ages three to 12. There is no charge for children two years old and younger.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Pulverente Gordmans recently announced an agreement with Footstar, Inc., the largest licensed footwear operator in the United States, to operate licensed footwear departments in all current and future Gordmans stores, announced Jeff Gordman, President and CEO.

60 Years Experience With Jewish Lettering and Memorials

ICAN, the Institute for Career Advancement Needs, has invited four nationally-recognized women to share their insights and experiences at the group's annual Women's Leadership Conference on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 8 a.m.4:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 72nd and Grover. Headlining the list of keynote speakers is former Secretary of Labor Lynn Martin; other speakers include international adventure racer Louise Cooper; Inside Edition television anchor Deborah Norville; and business educator and Nebraska native Melanie Mills.

An ICAN conference for high school juniors and seniors is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10.

Cost of the conference is $135. For more information or to register, call 392-0746, or log on to ican@novia.net.

Metropolitan Community College has been ranked as one of the fastest growing community colleges in a report published in Community College Week in December.

Metro is ranked 20th in a list of 50 community colleges, with student populations of 10,0000 or more; there are 141 community colleges of similar size throughout the U.S. In 1994, Metro had an enrollment of 10,686, which grew to 11,668 in 1999, an increase of nine percent.

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Westside High School will present the hit musical ByeBye Birdie on Feb 15-16, 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 17,2 p.m. Danielle Burr stars as Rosie; also featured are J o n Gates, Jill Goodman, Aron N e e s m a n , B e n Taxman and Susan V a n n .

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the high school in advance, or at the door.

At the 2001 VIP Annual Recognition Awards, Methodist Hospital honored Louise and Ruben Lippett with the Volunteer Gallery of Service award. Louise has volunteered one day each week for the past 30 years at the hospital gift shop; both she and her husband operate the gift shop on holidays. In addition, Ruben has volunteered two days a week for the past eight years (prior to that he volunteered for the Red Cross for three years).

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Her grandparents are Ruth Oruch of Omaha and the late Harold Oruch, and Tibby Rissien of Des Moines and the late Sam Rissien.

Her fiance is a Retail Originator with Conseco Finance Servicing Group.

His grandparents are Phyllis Kuluva of Kansas City and the late Harry Kuluva, and the late Dr. and Mrs. Henri Grand-Jean.

A March 16 wedding is planned at Kehilath Israel Synagogue in Overland Park.

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Jerusalem's first female rabbi, Karyri D. Kedar, Whispers: Stories of the Soul, Lessons of the Heart, currently Director of the Great Lakes was published in 1999.

Region of the Union of American Hebrew Her new book, The Dance Congregations in Northbrook, IL, will be of the Dolphin: Reflections li, in Omaha the weekend of Feb. 8 and 9. on Prayer, Perspective and She will deliver the sermon, "Three Meaning, was published Things that Sustain Us Spiritually," at in October, 2000. Both the Feb. 8, 8 p.m., Shabbat service at books are available for Temple Israel purchase at the Temple Israel office.

"It seems to me," Rabbi Kedar noted, "that we are always walking a tightrope.

Originally from We're always trying to balance work and Baltimore, MD, Rabbi family, personal and community obligaKedar received her B.A. tions." However, the balance that intrigues in English literature and her the most "is the one between the world holds two master's deof the spirit—that is, keeping a spiritual grees. One is in biblical center within ourselves while keeping our literature, which she feet on the ground and maintaining a earned from Baltimore rational voice. I'll try to address three Hebrew University, and ways in which we can help maintain our the other is in Hebrew letbalance," she said. Rabbi Kedar added ters from Hebrew Union that, her Friday night sermon will be as College-Jewish Institute much for men as for women. of Religion. She was orRabbi Karyn D. Kedar dained there in 1985.

On Feb. 9, Rabbi Kedar will lead the For 10 years, Rabbi Kedar lived in Israel. Today, Women of Reform Judaism's first Women's Retreat.

Rabbi Kedar has been in her current position she lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband, since July, 1999. Her office serves 62 congregations Ezra, and their three children. in five Midwest states. Additionally, she lectures as Rabbi Kedar's visit to Omaha is co-sponsored by the a scholar-in-residence around the country.

Hermene Zweiback Center for Lifelong Jewish Also an author, Rabbi Kedar's book, God Learning and the Women of Reform Judaism-Omaha.

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A large crowd gathered at the Venice Inn recently to honor the new Visions Steering Committee for 2002. Harry Alloy recognized the outgoing board members and installed the new board: from left, Milton and Doris Parker, Mitzvah Co-chairmen; Joan Marcus, Recording Secretary; and Gilda Pieck, Membership.

Talking History Schedule

for February The Talking History program airs Mondays at 10 a.m. on KIOS-PM (91.5).

Feb. 4: David Margolick will discuss entertainer Billie Holiday and her involvement with Civil Rights; Walter Berns will comment on Patriotism.

Feb. 11: An interview with William Stifel will explore the the Westminister Dog Show; Keith Nalor will offer a commentary entitled "Conservation: an American and Republican tradition," Feb. 18: Salih Booker of Africa Action, will be interviewed on US-Africa Relations; Allan Winkler will offer his thoughts on Civil Defense.

Feb: 25: To mark the 150 anniversary of the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, we will feature an interview with Joan Hedrick, author of Harriet Beecher Stowe, a Life, and a commentary by bestselling author Jane Smiley.

Readers!

Please letour advertisers know you saw thesr ac§ an the Jewish Press.

Thank you.

February 1, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 9

Fellman Scholar-in-Residence Features Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff

by OZZIE NOGG

The entire Omaha community is in for an educa- on issues of core values and quality of life and has tional opportunity when Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff been a pivotal force in raising awareness among milicomes to Beth El Synagogue for the Dr. Leon tary and civilian leaders regarding the role of reliFellman Scholar-in-Residence weekend on Feb. 23- gion in conflict, as well as its potential role in conflict 24. A dynamic teacher, Rabbi Resnicoff has lec- resolution and reconciliation. Through his efforts, tured widely on pluralism, religious freedom, ethics progress is being made to create relationships that and values. During his stay here, Rabbi Resnicoff s support peace-building efforts among religious leadtopic will be "Faith and Force: Religion, War and ers of the next generation.

Peace." In the aftermath of Sept. 11, his words will In 1996, Rabbi Resnicoff crafted and led the certainly carry added weight. first Conference on Ethics and Leadership for Rabbi Resnicoff retired from the U.S. Navy the Camp David Staff. In 2000, he was part of a Chaplain Corps in June, 2001, after a distin- White House discussion with President Clinton guished career that began in 1969 in the U.S. that explored the potential for religion to combat Armed Services on the rivers of Vietnam's Mekong violence in America's schools and society. Most Delta. His Navy days culminated with the assign- recently, in March, 2001, he was the only Rabbi ment as Top Chaplain for all U.S. military forces to participate in the Congressional Civil Rights operating in Europe, most of Africa and a chunk of Pilgrimage to Alabama that recreated the civil the mid-East-including Israel. rights march into Selma.

One of a small number of Viet Nam veterans who One of our country's most highly decorated chapworked to create the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial lains, Rabbi Resnicoff was a member of the Navy in Washington, DC, Rabbi Resnicoff delivered the Chief of Chaplains Ethics Advisory Board and took closing prayer at its 1982 dedication. part in the Millennium World Peace Summit of He was also present in Beirut, Lebanon, during Religious and Spiritual Leaders in 2000. the October, 1983, truck-bomb attack, and his He serves on the Jewish Theological Seminary report—written at White House request—was read Chancellor's Rabbinic Cabinet, the Board of

by President Ronald Reagan to the 20,000 atten- Trustees of New York's Carnegie Council on Ethics dees of the Baptist Fundamentalism '84 Conven- and International Affairs and is currently the tion. Rabbi Resnicoff was later awarded the Chapel National Director of Interreligious Affairs, of Four Chaplains Hall of Heroes Gold Medallion American Jewish Committee. for his work with the wounded and dying in Beirut.

While at Beth El, Rabbi Resnicoff will serve as A fierce supporter of military and humanitarian the darshan on Shabbat morning, Feb. 23, and will operations in the Balkans, Rabbi Resnicoff visited speak at the Shabbat BELLS Luncheon following Bosnia, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo to meet services.

• with US and NATO troops, civilian relief workers, He will also deliver an address at a Sunday political and military leaders, religious representa- morning breakfast on Feb. 24. tives and refugees.

The entire community is invited to attend. For Rabbi Resnicoff has briefed the Joint Chiefs of Staff more information, call the office at 492-8550.

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Page 10

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 1, 2002

Frledei Jewish Academy Enters the New Millennium Chabad Visits Postville

by SUSAN PALEY —

'

—

—

Welcome to the day school of the 21st century: a blockbuster general studies curriculum; prize-winning Jewish studies; a state-of-the-art facility; fabulous faculty; happy, great kids from every Jewish background learning' American and Jewish values; and an amazing community task force to assist with integrating new community realities into the new millennium.

"This is the most exciting growth period in the school's history," said Margo Riekes, long-time Jewish educator and community task force chairman. "The task force will be working to reevaluate, change and update the needs of the school today with the community of tomorrow. Our job is to help make the Priedel Academy not just a good school, but a fabulous resource for our community.

"We currently have several community vacancies to fill for Jewish professionals. In order to attract professionals of all persuasions to Omaha, we must be a full-service community. People will not move to a community without a viable day school," she added. "It makes a big statement about the quality of a Jewish community. This is the new 21st century reality. We must provide a school at the top level, just like we do everything else in this community."

Friedel board chairman Joel Rich said, "We're thrilled to see the community involvement and excitement in helping Friedel become the jewel of the Omaha Jewish community. With all of this professional support, we will see FJA become an invaluable part of this community of which we can be proud."

The community task force is working with Jewish Educational and Library Services and the Friedel board. Its first task was to update the school's mission statement to reflect an all-inclusive, truly community-oriented school, which now states: The Friedel Jewish Academy offers an integrated curriculum of general and Judaic studies for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The Friedel Jewish Academy will provide students with a firm foundation in Jewish and general

by JEWISH PRESS News Service.

learning, promoting individual and social development in an atmospliere of warmth, joy and intellectual excitement. Upon completion of the program, students will be well prepared for their next levels of study. Friedel graduates will be knowledgeable and skilled Jews, responsible Americans and caring citizens of the world. The Academy welcomes and values all members of our Jewish community.

"The school belongs to the entire Omaha Jewish community, and we felt that the task force should be broadly based. We've asked educators, as well as people with marketing expertise, to join us. The response has been overwhelming," Rich added.

Task force committee members include Jewish educators Gloria Kaslow, Stan Mitchell and Helen Epstein; secular educators Pam Friedlander, Pam Cohen and Cathy Christensen. Dr. Marty Wolf serves as consultant. Representatives from the Federation are Carolyn Novicoff, JELS Executive Director; Kathy Hirshman, JELS Director of scholarships; Julee Katzman, Assistant Federation Director; and me. The Friedel board is represented

by Joel Rich and Chairman-elect Julianna Reno.

Marty and Aviva Shukert serve as former FJA board members, and Omaha newcomer George Aufseeser brings business and financial expertise.

Pam Cohen, Principal of R.M. Marrs Academy and curriculum chair for the task force, agreed to be a part of the task force "to assist in making Friedel a viable school that could compete successfully with other day schools around the country, meet the needs of our growing Jewish community arid create a credible institution that Omaha can be proud of."

Novicoff explained, "As part of a total community support system, we are forging a team to share our collective expertise as the Friedel Academy becomes all that it can be. This is a rare and exciting opportunity for the whole community. JELS, the task force, Freidel and the Federation are working together to collectively support the school in every way we can. We're witnessing history in the making."

After attending a concert in Postville, IA, performed by recording artist "Uncle Moishe" (kneeling at right), a group of Omahans visited the local kosher grocery store, which includes a butcher and full meat restaurant. Postville is the home of some 350 Chabad-Lubavitch, who came to the small northeast Iowa community in the 1990s to operate Rubaskin'-s, a kosher meat processing plant. Among the attendees were Michael Marcovitz (standing, right), and two of his children, Havah (Cleo) Rogers-Marcovitz and Yitzhack (Isaac) Rogers-Marcovitz, and Rabbi Mendel Katzman, left, and several Katzman children. Chabad of Nebraska is planning a Shabbbos weekend this spring, open to members of the Jewish community.

Please contact Rabbi Katzman at the Chabad House, 330-1800, for more information.

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February 1, 2002

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 11

Tight-knit Group of Jews in Utah Home to This Year's Olympics

by JULIE WIENER

—

NEW YORK (JTA)--Utah is probably the only place where a Jewish political candidate has ever been criticized for being a gentile.

On the campaign trail in 1916, Simon Bamberger, who was elected the state's first and only Jewish governor, had to argue his way into a meeting hall by saying, "As a Jew, I've been called many a bad name, but this is the first time in my life that I've been called a damned gentile."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormons formally are called, is based in Salt Lake City and is a dominant presence in the region. In a custom some Jews find disconcerting, the church describes all non-Mormons as gentiles.

Whether they're called gentiles or not, Jews definitely are a minority in Utah.

Nonetheless, Salt Lake City, which is hosting the Winter Olympics beginning Feb. 9, has had a Jewish presence for almost 200 years and today is home to more than 3500 Jews.

Leaders of the small community report good relations with the Mormon establishment.

The region boasts a brand-new Jewish community center just yards from the Olympic Village — although the facility has more non-Jewish members than Jewish ones — a Reform-Conservative synagogue and

Chabad house, each of which have a mikvah, and a Reconstructionist congregation.

The Jewish community is hosting two receptions for Israeli and other Jewish athletes. In addition, the Olympics will host an exhibit on the history of Utah's Jews, which will appear together with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's traveling exhibit on the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Salt Lake City's Chabad rabbi, Benny Zippel, will serve as the Olympics'Jewish chaplain.

Given the heightened security arrangements in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, even Zippel won't know until the last minute just how many Jewish athletes are competing, or who will be needing his services.

Utah's first Jewish settlers arrived in the 1820s. Most were fur trappers, explorers and, later, merchants capitalizing on the California gold rush, said Eileen Hallet Stone, author of the book A Homeland in the West: Utah Jews Remember, and curator of the Olympic exhibit on Utah Jews.

In the 1860s, Utah's small community of Jewish merchants suffered from a boycott of non-Mormon stores.

Ultimately they wrote to Brigham Young, the Mormon leader, asking him to buy out their businesses.

Young didn't, but the boycott eventually was lifted, Stone said.

Another milestone in Utah Jewish history came in 1911, when approximately 200 Jews arrived as part of a communal farm. The farm failed within a few years due to poor training and difficult agricultural conditions, but some of the Jews remained.

In recent years, Utah's Jewish community has been relatively stable — with an estimated 5000 to 6000 Jews — said Teresa Bruce, executive director of United Jewish Federation of Utah. The federation raises just less than $600,000 a year, she said.

Themajority of Utah Jews live in Salt Lake City, but nearby Park City — home of the Sundance Film Festival — has a growing Jewish population and its own synagogue.

Utah has several Jewish families that have been there for generations.

For the most part, however, the community is "very transient," said Bruce, who moved to Salt Lake City from San Francisco 14 years ago.

"Many people will move here because of careers or because they've taken early retirement," she said.

Rabbi Frederick Wenger, spiritual leader of Congregation Kol Ami, the Reform-Conservative synagogue, said the Jewish community has become younger and more diverse in the 15 years he has lived there. Chabad and the Reconstructionist congregation are relative newcomers.

"There was a historic Jewish community that went back to the found-

ing of the state, and they've been built upon by people who've come in for the University of Utah and hightech positions," he said. "It's a community that is asking for more options than in the past."

So what is it like to be Jewish in the shadow of the Mormon headquarters?

Wenger, who moved to Salt Lake City from Skokie, IL, which has a much heavier Jewish influence, said the Mormon presence "makes us more active and makes our members just a bit more dedicated than they would be if we were in a community that makes religion less of a priority.

"Being here makes you appreciate your Jewishness and Judaism," he said. The community's size, coupled with the large number of newcomers, makes it friendly and tight-knit, Bruce said.

"You walk into synagogue the first time and you're immediately recognized as a newcomer," she said.

"Suddenly, 8-10 people are greeting you, and before you know it you're invited to Shabbos dinner.

"The common denominator with so many people not having family here means that you adopt everyone not only as being friends, but mishpoche," she said using the Yiddish word for family.

Proselytizing is a strong component of Mormon culture, but Jewish leaders say they generally have enjoyed good relations with the Mormon

Advertisers!

We can't part the Red Sea.. .

But we can put your message in L* the Passover Edition of the Jewish Press.

SPECIAL ISSUE Publication Date: March 22, 2002 Ad Deadline: February 27, 2002 This year, the theme for our annual Passover Edition is "Jews in Sports: Omaha Hosts the 2002 Maccabi Games." This issue will not only feature great Jewish athletes of Nebraska, but will also highlight the 2002 Jewish Community Center Maccabi Games. We will introduce more than 75 young Jewish athletes to the community through this issue.

For further information, call: Allan Handelmen 334-6451 Ray Pred 334-6559 or the Jewish Press office 334-6448

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 1, 2002

Salvation Army Searches for Young Heroes

Temple's Club 56 and JYG Join JROK for Program

by JEWISH PRESS News Service

Three separate youth groups will join together for swimming, gym and a movie at the JCC on Saturday, Feb. 16.

Club 56f Temple's youth group for fifth and sixth graders; JYG, Temple's Junior Youth Group for 7 th and 8th graders; and JROK (Jewish Realm of Omaha Kids), the JCC's youth programming for fifth-eighth graders, will start off the night with a Havdallah service.

After they say farewell to Shabbat, the youth groupers will have a choice of swimming, playing in the gym, or watching a movie on the brand new big screen TV. Then pizza and cookies

looking forward to sharing a program with JYG and JROK We hope it will

Jewish ieilm of Omaha HHs be such a success that we'll have to do it again!"

Gates and Flatowicz are also excited about working with JCC Program Associate Gary Katz. Since taking over JROK last summer, Katz has seen a strong core group form among JROKers.

"By introducing a membership incentive program, I hope to increase and expand membership. I think this cooperative program will help to expand the membership of all our youth groups, and I look forward to working together!"

This joint program will be held from 6:30-

9:30 p.m.r at JCC Club 56ers gather for a photo at their January pro- For more informagram of a movie and root beer floats. tion, call Jen will be served as they wind down the Gates at 212-7143, or e-mail her at night in the youth lounge. jgates@jewishomaha.org; call Club 56 Advisor Jen Gates said, Nikki Flatowicz at 333-3561, or Gary "Nikki (Flatowicz) and I are really Katz at 334-6403. the

by JEWISH PRESS News Service - â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Salvation Army is actively seeking nominations for the 2002 D.J.'s Hero Awards to be presented at the 4th Annual "Be A Hero" luncheon in May. Five Nebraska teens, ages 17-19, will be selected to receive the D.J.'s Hero Award, named after D.J. Sokol, for commitment to others and to their community.

Nominations must be postmarked

by March 1, 2002 to be eligible for entry. Students are encouraged to seek nominations from their schools, churches, friends, family and community leaders.

Each award recipient will receive a $1500 scholarship toward their

selected college or trade school. DJ"s Heroes will be recognized at the "Be A Hero" luncheon on May 6 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center.

Proceeds from the luncheon benefit programs for children and families.

D.J. Sokol, son of David and Peggy Sokol of Omaha, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 18. Through the this award, D.J. Sokol's memory will live on through the recipients who share his qualities.

Nomination forms are available by contacting your local Salvation Army or: 402-898-5906. Nomination forms are also available on our Website: www.salvationarmyoinaha.org.

Junior Maccabi Starts Off with .a Bang!

by GARY KATZ, JCC Program Associate

Tsabari, and Molly Noodell) 64-38 in laser tag. "The entire day was a blast, and it was great to see some new faces at our programming," stated Rachel Blum, Youth Director.

Jr. Maccabi is part of the larger club, J-ROK (Jewish Realm of Omaha Kids), and is open for all Jewish JCC members in fifth and sixth grades. The next program is "Purim Mania" on Thursday, Feb. 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the JCC for soccer, making and eating hamantashen, and learning some fun Purim games. The cost is $5.

For more information about Junior Maccabi or J-ROK, contact me at 334-6403 or gkatz@jewishomaha.org.

Junior Maccabi, a club designed to provide opportunities for Jewish youth not yet old enough to participate in the JCC Maccabi Games, celebrated its inaugural program last Sunday. Fifth and sixth-graders went to Papio Fun Park and played miniature golf, laser tag, space ball, and video games.

Dylan Wertheim, Lydia Stern, and Molly Noodell each celebrated holesin-one playing miniature golf in the unseasonably warm weather. The "Green Team" (Alex Solomon, Lydia Stern, Dylan Wertheim, Claire Schlessinger, and me) beat the "Red Team" (Erica Chapman, Sarah Chapman, Amy Durmaskin, Efrat

ions.

"Creighton has always been known as a nationally-recognized institution for higher education. But it's the people that have made the difference for me. What you'll find at Creighton are great educators that are passionate about what they do. The small classes and personal relationships I've built with my professors have helped me both personally and academically. We worked together to establish the Creighton Jewish Student Group which has become a strong personal connection for me. There is a premium on this kind of one-on-one education - it's a

Scott Yahraus, CU 2Q02 Finance Major

huge opportunity for whatever you want to be."

Office of Undergraduate Admissions. 800.282.5835.402.280.2703. admissions@creighton.edu

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY

February 1,2001

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

" ."A

Determined f o Succeed It has been said that life's most valuable lessons cannot be taught in school. They cannot be learned from books, they are learned through experience. They are not found in classrooms, they are found in everyday living. They reside in our minds and they dwell in our hearts.

In reflecting upon the past 17 years of my life, I have learned the most about myself not from school, but from ballet.

After dancing for nearly 14 years, I discovered the meaning of success and, more importantly, of failure.

Because of minor disabilities in my feet and ankles, dancing had always been quite difficult for me, but something at which I yearned to excel.

I watched enviously as my classmates effortlessly completed every step with grace and every movement with precision. I envied how easy ballet was for them. No step was ever too difficult; no position was ever impossible. But, I also knew something that they didn't; skill wasn't everything.

was no longer a struggle, but an accomplishment. Through my own perseverance and sheer will power to succeed, I made progress.

Slowly, my steps became graceful and my movements grew precise.

Ballet was no longer a threat, it was an enjoyment, and my struggles soon turned into new levels of accomplishment. As my feelings of embarrassment transformed into confidence, I became a better dancer. I had learned to use determination and self-motivation to my advantage.

My classmates may have had better technique in the beginning, but now I had surpassed them with hard work and determination. I began to understand life's little lessons and, despite my shortcomings, had found within

Sarah Edelstein While my classmates possessed the technique, I possessed the determination.

After I discovered the personal power I had that emanated from my determination to succeed, each class

e apout

BBYO's Winter Regional Convention! a flood Time for All

by Josh Sweet

by Sarah Edelstein

myself t h e power to — succeed. It is these lessons that will not only allow me to succeed in college, but in the rest of my life as well.

Sarah is a senior at Millard North and a member of Beth El, BBYO-Ediar and USY. She is currently deciding between Kansas University and University ofWisconsin.

What has inspired you the most?

by Aaron Wolfson - ~ — — — .

Everyone has something in their life that helps drive them. It is different depending on the person; it can be an object, an idea, or another person.

I am inspired the most by my younger brother, Avi. Avi has a genetic disorder that renders him unable to speak in words and perform most muscle functions. This is a terrible thing to have happen to someone, and I keep in mind that it could just as easily have been me who got the disorder.

The fact that he has special needs alone is not what inspires me, because after all, many people are in a similar situation. Avi is special because he is almost always happy and cheerful, despite his condition. It strikes me that even though he may never be able to do things that we take for granted, like having a job or getting married, he is still able to find plenty of enjoyment in life. When I

remember that, it makes me think twice about complaining about a ! school assignment or some other minor detail. It shows me that if he can be so upbeat despite having far I more difficulties than me, there is no | reason for me to get down over something much more miniscule.

I believe that my relationship with \ my brother has helped me gain a perspective on life that I would not have had otherwise. Because of him, I know firsthand that there are people | in the world who are worse off than me; and, of course, he has been a great ] brother to have around, Avi inspires ] me to always have fun and enjoy life, no matter what I end up doing.

Aaron is a senior at Westside, a member of Temple Israel, BBYO and OTYG. He will be attending Washington University in St. Louis, MO. 1 3 £•*

Name: Ben Taxman Grade: 11 Youth Group: BBYOAZA#1 Term: Oct. '01 - March '02 Synagogue: Temple Israel High School:

Ariel Shukert, right, spoke to BUG members during business meetings at convention.

Over winter break, 34 BBYO members traveled to Kansas City for the annual Mid-America Region Winter Convention. The region consists of BBYO members from Omaha, St. Louis, and Kansas City; WRC is one of three annual conventions.

For freshmen, this was their first convention with all of the members of the region, and it was an incredible experience.

The weekend was filled with educational activities, some providing us with community service opportunities, such as building birdhouses and learning about the importance of recycling.

Other activities were designed to build brotherhood and sisterhood

not working on BBYO? J I'm in Show Choir and Badminton I Club at Westside, and do school work. | How much time do you put into| your youth group each week?

A lot..

What is your goal for this year?

Westside To bring our chapFavorite Jewish ter backup to #1.

Holiday: Purim Who is your Favorite Quote: right hand man Ben Delman, right, Moreh of "When they're (or woman)? all workin' togethChaim Weizmann #1510, Andrew er, not one fella accepted t h e award for the Malashock and for another fell, chapter with the highest memGary Katz. but one fella kind ber retention.

Favorite band: of harnessed to among the members. For example, OAR the whole shebang the girls participated in a Krav Maga (Of a Revolution) - that's right, class, which focused on Israeli selfLast movie you that's holy" -Casy, defense techniques. At the same saw (in thetime; the boys did fraternity-building Grapes of Wrath aters): What are some exercises which focused on teamwork.

Orange County. of your main Most conventions end with a dance, Was it good? duties as presiand this weekend was no exception. dent?

It was okay. I "It's just so much fun," stated freshguess it was pretRun the chapman Betsy Goodman. "The weekend Ben Taxman ty funny. ter, keep things in was a blast! I had a great time." order and help other members with Favorite food: The next regional BBYO convention is Spring Convention which their jobs.

Pizza. will be held at Camp Sabra from What do you find most challeng- What are your plans for the April 25-28. ing about running a youth future? (What do you want to be For more information or to get group? when you grow up): involved in BBYO, the largest Jewish Keeping everyone in line.

I want to go to a good school and youth group in the world, contact What are you doing when you're get a degree in Architecture.

Rachel Blum at 334-6404.

Page 14

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 1,2002

Enron's 401 (k) Calamity

Volunteers Can Benefit

(Continued from page 1) •——•—•—»• Employees couldn't sell stock that reduced its claim for net income since Enron gave them until they turned 1997 by 20%.

50. They were not prohibited from On Oct. 26, the day Enron claims it selling Enron stock that they pur- froze its 401(k) accounts, its stock chased with their own money. At the was at $13.81. By the time 401(k) end of 2000, 62% of the value of investors could sell again, the stock employee 401(k) plans were held in was at $9.98.

Enron stock. (This is risky, but not This lockdown is troubling, but the unique. Proctor & Gamble's fund is facts are murky. Enron claims it was 95% company stock, according to a routine and previously scheduled. But recent survey by DC Plan Investing. considering events, one would think General Electric's is 54%.) that prudence should dictate that In early 2001, Enron decided to con- Enron postpone the transfer until less tract out its 401(k) administration to tumultuous times. One retiree claims an outside company. The transfer Enron pushed its stock aggressively. required a freezing of accounts, which But another retiree who left his took place over a period in October entire account in company stock says and November. The time frame is he was advised to diversify. under dispute, and is the subject of Did executives push stock on many lawsuits. The company claims employees while selling from their the period was 12 trading days, from portfolios? Well know more someday, Oct. 26 through Nov. 12. One employ- as the Federal Trade Commission, the ee has testified that accounts were Department of Labor, and a gazillion frozen as early as Sept. 26. One law- attorneys are all investigating the suit claims that different accounts issue. were frozen for different time periods.

As crushing as these losses are, Another claims the lockdown started they don't impugn defined-contribuon Oct. 17. tion investing, which offers This general period was horrible for Americans much freedom in practice, Enron. Some of the highlights: On not just in theory. And calls for more Oct. 16, it announced that it had to regulation will only increase administake a $1.1 billion charge for bad trative costs and reduce choice. investments. On Oct. 22,- the What Enron's employees needed Securities and Exchange Commission most was sound financial advice not (SEC) announced a probe of Enron. to put all their money on one horse.

On Oct. 29, Moody's downgraded This is especially true for the retirees, Enron's credit ratings. On Oct.31, the who, it must be noted, were free to SEC upped its probe to a full-fledged sell their Enron stock at any point investigation. On Nov. 8, Enron other than the lockdown period.

(Continued from page 1) —•"-——— to a charity is treated as having obtained a receipt from the charity (and thus, may deduct those expenses if the volunteer has adequate records for his or her volunteer expenses) those generally required to substantiate deductions) and obtains an abbreviated receipt from the charity.

The receipt must contain: • A description of the volunteer's services.

• A statement whether the charity provided any goods or services in exchange for the unreimbursed expenses.

• A description and good faith estimate of the value of any goods or services provided (if the goods or services provided consist of any intangible religious benefits, the receipt must so state).

• If no goods or services were provided, the receipt must so state.

You may not deduct travel expenses as charitable gifts if there's a significant element of personal pleasure, recreation or vacation in the travel. But enjoying your volunteer work doesn't rule out a deduction. For example, an on-duty troop leader for a tax-exempt youth group who takes children belonging to the group on a camping trip may deduct qualifying travel expenses even if he or she enjoys the trip or likes super-

vising children.

You may also deduct unreimbursed expenses you incur in operating your personal property while performing your volunteer work (e.g., the cost of film in using your camera). Here again, you may not deduct insurance and depreciation or the cost of the equipment.

And you may not deduct the value of your services. For example, suppose the prevailing rate for the services you render is $50 per hour. If you devote 100 hours during the year rendering those services for us, you may not deduct the $5000 value of your services. Although deductions are allowed for property gifts, the IRS doesn't consider your services "property". Also, the use of your home for meetings is not a "property contribution".

Finally, it's up to you to substantiate your deductions if the IRS questions them. Be prepared to prove your costs with canceled checks, receipted bills, diary entries, etc.

Also, be ready to show the connection between the cost and your volunteer work.

The tax aspects and reporting requirements for gifts to a charitable institution depend on your circumstances. As in all cases, we urge you to consult your adviser.

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Stocks vs. Real Estate remember the gain has been generated from an initial investment of only $10,000...a 600% return!

If we put the same $10,000 in the stock market there would also be a considerable gain if the annual return were 20%. However, the investment would only be worth approximately $62,000, a 500% return.

A 5% rate of appreciation on real estate, while more conservative, still rewards us with a higher return.

At the end of the ownership period, there would be some fundamental differences in disposing of the assets. It may cost up to 10% of the sale price to sell all the real estate ($17,000, or approximately 25% of the gains), while the stocks would be less expensive to sell. However, the stock sale would be subject to capital gains taxes of about 18%, while our real estate gains are tax-free as long as the real estate was our personal residence. It does seem that one offsets the other As we have seen over the last year or more, while stocks have lost ground, real estate continues to appreciate, thus supporting our wise decision to own as much "home" as possible as part of our overall investment strategy.

Real Estate Investment $10,000 Assets $100,000 Rate of Gain 5% Ending Value $171,000 Total Gain 600% Cost of Sale 10% Tax Rate 0%

Stocks

$10,000 $10,000 20%

$62,000 500% Minimal 18%

Based upon 10 years

m^ Whether you're city slickers or coun^ J try folk, you're not alone. You have a part- ^ A v ner. . .whether you want one or not. In fact, ^ ^ you have more than one! ®2 Who are your partners? Well, shucks. . .the U.S. w government, of course. And state and local govern- *j ments are obliged to be your partners, too. They all • want to stake their claims on a good part of your spread. Uncle Sam will lasso up to 38% of your income, 50% of your estate, even up to 75% of the assets in your retirement accounts . . .not to mention state and local income taxes, property taxes, sales tax, gasoline, telephone, etc.

Had enough? No wonder it's a showdown out there! And if you agree it's not OK for these partners to graze on everything you've got, then high-tail it over to our office for some estate planning techniques that will trim down your tax liability. Those same varmints who = want to take it out of your hide can also be your partners in saving your skin. Put your brand of approval on a range of ideas for tax savings and charitable giving.

by KEN KLUCK, Director Tax Department, McDermott & Miller, P.C.

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What's all this talk about 529 Plans?

A 529 is a program to save for college where an individual can contribute for the benefit of another person. The funds are invested and grow tax-free.

They are not taxed as long as they are later withdrawn for qualified higher education expenses for the beneficiary.

A site which provides listing of t h e various s t a t e plans is: www.savingforcollege.com.

Under the Nebraska plan, there is a Nebraska income tax deduction of up. to $1000 per year. There is no equivalent federal deduction. The motivation for funding a 529 is not to get a tax deduction, but rather to invest money free from tax.

If a grandparent puts $10,000 away for a grandchild's college education in an investment account under their own or the child's name, the earnings will be taxed. By investing the money in a 529 plan, it grows tax-free without being reduced by taxes. The donor controls the investment until the distribution is made, so he or she knows that the funds will be used for educating the beneficiary.

The donor's contribution to a 529 plan is treated as a gift from the donor to the beneficiary. There can be gift tax consequences that allow a donor to put additional funds in the 529 plan.

A donor should look into these rules before funding a plan to learn about the benefits of helping a loved one with future college expenses, while saving potential estate taxes later.

Call us at

of the Jewish Federation of Omaha

Page IS

What's a 529?

by MICHAEL SKOLKIN, Security Federal Savings ——

Looking back, we can see that the Dow Jones Stock Market in the United States exploded from 3000 to 11,000 in about eight years throughout most of the 1990s. That phenomenal growth rate equates to approximately 20%, compounded annually. If only it could have continued.

If we were to experience another extended climb based on the same 20% for eight years, the Dow would be at the 43,000 level by the end of the decade.

Could it happen? It's possible. None of us have a crystal ball. Let's look at the historical results of investing in stocks vs. buying real estate, even presuming t h e same outstanding stock market returns.

As a long-term investment, real estate compares very favorably. There are no investments that give us the tax benefits of real estate: the deductibility of monthly interest, and a tax-free gain at the end of the line.

Where else can we earn $500,000 on our investment and not pay taxes? Because of the deductibility of monthly interest and because the investment is a home which takes the place of paying rent, we can compare this to investing in stocks by using leverage.

So how does leverage work? If we put a 5% down payment on a home and the total home purchase, including closing costs, amounts to 10% of the sale price, we can say that we have leveraged 90% of the investment. We have purchased a $100,000 home and have invested $10,000. At a 5% rate of gain, the investment is worth approximately $171,000 in 10 years.

While $171,000 after 10 years doesn't seem huge,

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

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Page 16

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 1, 2002

New Estate Tax Laws Confuse Many

by JEWISH PRESS News Service

—

In the summer of 2001, Congress passed new estate tax laws. Unfortunately, the laws are so misunderstood and so confusing that many people will fail to avoid unnecessary estate taxes.

Myth Number 1: The estate tax has been, repealed.

The newly-enacted estate tax provisions increase the former estate tax exemption to a full one million dollars for deaths occurring in the year 2002, and all the way to a $3.5 million exemption for deaths occurring in 2009.

While it is true that the estate tax is actually repealed entirely for the year 2010, Nick Taylor, estate planning attorney with Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler and Brennan, P.C., L.L.O., in Omaha, advises that many clients do not understand that the repeal is actually eliminated in 2011. This means that the prior law allowing a one million dollar exemption will be in effect for deaths occurring in the year 2011 or after! In effect, there is only a repeal for deaths occurring in 2010.

Myth Number 2: Husband and wife are automatically entitled to two exemptions.

It is true that federal law allows a husband and wife to each make use of a full estate-tax exemption. However, Mary Vandernack, also of Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler and Brennan, advises that

this use of two exemptions is only available if a couple properly plans their estate.

For example, the couple with a three million dollar estate who fails to put this planning in place may have as much as $700,000 of estate tax, while the couple who implements this planning may actually pay no estate tax whatsoever!

Myth Number 3:1 don't need tax planning.

According to Nick Taylor, many couples with an estate of more than a million dollars are not doing estate-tax planning because they believe their estates will not exceed $3.5 million. However, most national adivers believe that Congress will place a cap on the scheduled exemption increases.

Additionally, the estate tax planning to make use of two exemptions must be in place prior to the first spouse to die. Thus, most couples with an estate of more than one million dollars or more will want the estate tax planning in place to cover them as the size of their estate increases.

Many people will want to review their existing estate plans in light of the new tax laws, and those people who have never looked at estate-tax planning for their own situations will want to do so to be sure they have made the best decisions for their own circumstances.

Long-Term Care insurance Critical to: Financial Planning

by MILTON M. KLEINBERG, CEO of Senior Market Sales, Inc.

There are different ways to look at financial prodThe solution is long-term care insurance for peace of ucts and services. From asset accumulation to mind during the retirement years, and critical illness estate planning, financial advisors need to have, at insurance to help young families protect their savings their disposal, a broad range of wealth manage- from the effects of serious illness. ment products. Two products most often overlooked Critical illness insurance is a fairly new product, by financial planners are long-term care and criti- which is now gaining popularity with farmers, cal-illness insurance. Even with good medical cov- businesses and their employees. Unlike life insurerage, nothing will deplete an estate quicker than a ance that only pays upon death, or disability insurcritical illness or a prolonged nursing home stay. ance that replaces a percentage of the monthly It's ironic, but the same medical treatment that income, critical illness pays lump sum benefits at can prolong or save a life often kills a life's savings. the time the disease like a heart attack, cancer or While medical insurance can cover the cost of the stroke has been diagnosed...it pays regardless of actual treatment, it does not cover deductibles, co- the prognosis or anticipated life expectancy. payments, or indirect costs associated with the It isn't how complex each individuals financial treatment of a critical illness. And, Medicare does needs are, it's how simple critical illness insurance not cover the long-term care needs of seniors. can become the solution.

Beware of ££AbusiveiS Tax Shelters

by JEWISH PRESS News Service—

_____

While there is no hard and fast definition of abusive tax shelter arrangements, typically they are promoted by the promise of tax benefits with no meaningful change in the taxpayer's control over or benefit from the taxpayer's income or assets.

The promised benefits may include reduction or elimination of income subject to tax; deductions for personal expenses paid by the trust or other entity; depreciation deductions of an owner's personal expenses paid by the trust or other entity; depreciation deductions of an owner's personal residence and furnishings; a stepped-up basis for property transferred to the trust or other 'entity; the reduction or elimination of self-employment taxes; and the reduction or elimination of gift and estate taxes. These promised benefits are inconsistent with the tax rules.

These "come ons" should be seen as red flags: •.Never pay taxes again.

• Deduct the cost of your personal residence.

• Deduct the cost of your child's education.

• The IRS doesn't want you to know about this.

0 This is so new, your CPA doesn't know about it yet.

• Multiple trusts, partnerships or other entities are involved.

• Some of the entities involved are foreign.

If one or more of these red flags exist, you should consult a tax professional not involved in promoting the investment, or contact the IRS to determine how it will treat such a promotion. It's worth your time to learn more about the legal/tax consequences of the promotion you are considering investing in. The penalties, interest and legal costs associated with an abusive tax promotion are significant (and these are in addition to the tax due and fees you paid for the promotion).

For questions' on abusive tax shelters or other tax matters, call 1-800-829-1040.

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What Does Nursing Home Insurance Have to Do with Estate Planning?

There are two realities about the increase benefits to pay more toward risk of a stay in a nursing home: 1) nursing home costs.

We all know someone special who has Here are some interesting facts: needed this type of care; and, 2) we • 43% of those who reach age 65 will can become easily muddled by the eventually need care in a nursing many statistics that are thrown home. around related to nursing home prob• 75% of married couples have a ability and costs. spouse who will require long-term The simple fact is the "risk" is real, care. and with the average stay in a nurs• Medicare pays less than 2% of all ing home costing $50,000 per year in long term care expenses.

Nebraska, and up, the impact on • Medicaid pays only if patients are one's estate can be tremendous. reduced to legally described poverty.

We are often asked: Just Call for Tax Help If government programs Should someone insure are not an option, then this risk, or will there be your alternatives include expanded governmental personal savings, depencoverage any time soon? dency upon children (or Presently, federal and others) or insurance polistate Medicaid budgets cies (or any combination are straining just to' prothereof). vide care for those who Today's policies include are considered legally coverage for nursing home, impoverished. Our govassisted living facilities ernment simply cannot expand enti- and home health care. We recomtlement programs without significant mend that all of our clients over the tax increases. age of 50 take a serious look at the risk of long-term care and their preThus, it is unlikely that government, at any level, will be able to ferred method of dealing with it.

Financial Planning Requires Teamwork

by ROBERT E. MUNDY, CLU, ChFc Mundy and Associates, Inc. • • However, unlike the tailor, no one advisor has all of the answers and the responsibility of each one is not always clear. .

For example, when people are visiting with their attorney about their wills and trusts, they rarely include their CPA or insurance broker in the discussion. Nor do they include their attorney and CPA in discussions with their life insurance broker.

FEEL LIKE A MILLION

Page 1?

Program to Outline '25 Steps to College'

by BOB NELSON, CLU Vice-President, grace/mayer Life and Estate Planning Division — — „ „ , » - » » . « • — .

Late British playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, "The only person who behaves.sensibly is, my. tailor. He measures me anew each time he sees me."

In today's rapidly changing world, it is not only our waist size that changes, so do our financial objectives. Thus, we rely on various advisors to help adjust our planning to fit our evolving goals.

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

by DIANE AXLER BAUM — "Twenty-five Steps to the College of Your Choice," a free program open to the community, is scheduled for Thursday, F e b . 7, 79 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center.

Featured speaker will be f Rick Singer, whose experi- I » ence with a college-counseling business brought him in contact with students nationwide.

"Families and students need to understand that the college process is a game," said Singer in a recent interview. "You must understand the rules, and how the competitors will be competing against you, to get into the school of your choice."

According to Singer, anyone can learn how to play the game successfully. He pointed to selection of the "appropriate high school" as a student's vital first step. Moreover, he warned, a student must be prepared "on day one (of high school) to make the right choices about courses, clubs, activities, and community service."

Singer will focus on all aspects of the high-school years, including curriculum, community service, activities, leadership roles, class rank, and the SAT exams.

"Preparing for them is very important," he said of the SATs. He believes the exams in individual subjects are as important as the ones that test general aptitude.

An Executive Vice-president of West Telemarketing Company in Omaha for the past several years, Singer previously owned and operated Future Stars, headquartered in Northern California, which he sold to a publicly traded company.

Rick Singer He holds an undergraduate degree from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, and a master's in counseling from the University of LaVerne in Southern California. He is working toward a Ph.D. online. His son,,, only five years of age, already has his sights set on Vanderbilt University.

Since moving to Omaha, Singer has made use of the JCC facilities and often volunteers his time there. He feels sure, he said, his forthcoming program will be of value to all JCC parents.

Singer's session is the second event in a two-part program titled, "Sharpen Your Knowledge about Going to College." Sponsor of the session is Jewish Educational and Library Services (JELS).

For more information, please email or phone Kathy Hirshman, Director of Scholarships and Education Administration for JELS, at Khirshman@jewishomaha.org or 334-6445.

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February 1, 2002

Finding a Good Investment Manager

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As your circumstances change and the markets move, your investments and asset management needs may change. You'll benefit from establishing a relationship with an investment advisor who has expertise in the full range of investment options.

• Customized investment strategies.

Beware of advisors selling off-the-shelf financial or investment plans.

Investment management is not an area where one size fits all. Find an advisor who is willing to spend time getting to know and understand your personal circumstances, financial objectives, time horizon and tolerance for market risk.

8 Goal vs. transaction orientation.

You're probably investing to reach or maintain specific financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement, vacation home, travel, college for the kids. Look for an investment advisor whose primary focus is helping clients meet long-term goals.

• Performance-based compensation. It is your assets that are at risk.

Select an investment advisor whose

compensation s t r u c t u r e rewards portfolio performance, not churning your portfolio for transaction fees.

• Tax friendly strategies. People with high net worth need to consider the tax implications on their investments. An investment advisor should be able to recommend specific strategies to reduce income or estate tax liability.

• Convenience and communication.

You should be able to conduct your investment business and contact your advisor in a manner that is most convenient for you. This may include to-face meetings, or you may prefer to do your business by phone or computer.

Before you choose an investment manager, do your homework. Ask questions about investment philosophy and fees. Evaluate the advisor's long-term performance. With a modest investment of time, you'll reap the benefits by finding an investment manager with whom you can build a solid, long-term relationship that will get you to your goals.

U.S. Bank's Client Group offers an integrated, personalized approach to help you achieve your unique financial goals. Visit any U.S. Bank office for more information.

Amend Your Qualified Plan ors Time, or Risk Loss of Valuable Tax Benefits

by JEWISH PRESS News Service — All qualified pension, profit-shar- 11 terrorist attack on the United ing and 401(k) plans (including States automatically have an ESOPs) must be amended by Feb. extended deadline to amend until 28, 2002, for extenJune 30, 2002. These sive changes in the same plans may apply tax rules which govto t h e Service for a ern qualified plans. further extension Some fiscal year until Dec. 31. plans may qualify Amend your plan for a later deadlineand submit a determithe last day of the nation letter applicafiscal year, which tion by the deadline begins in 2001. and help prevent the Plans directly loss of valuable tax affected by the Sept. benefits.

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February 1, 2002

Enron Scandal Poses Challenge for Houston Jewish Community

by JULIE WIENER —

—

-

unseemly for someone linked to a major scandal to serve in such a prominent role, Johnson said that while "things could change," there has been no discussion of that issue yet.

"Our involvement is predominantly with Mrs. Lay and not Mr. Lay, and she doesn't work for Enron and hasn't had anything to do with what's going on," he .said.

"We don't know about Enron's business dealings," Johnson said. "We strictly were a charity they supported."

The Lays also contributed $2500 to the Jewish Community Center of Houston for its scholarship fund, made a one-time contribution of $50,000 to its capital campaign in 1999, and occasionally contributed to the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston when invited to benefits.

Top professionals with the federation and JCC acknowledge that the Enron scandal is taking a toll on the Jewish community, but say Enron had a relatively minor role as a donor to Jewish causes or an employer of Jews.

So far, local Jewish agencies are not experiencing a surge in demand for services from people who lost their jobs or retirement money as a result of the Enron bankruptcy.

"We've had very few, if any, individuals who have lost their retirement assets approach Jewish institutions for help," said Lee Wunsch, Executive Vice-president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. However, he said he is personally aware of a few people who are "struggling."

"People in their late 50s who had accumulated retirement assets and saw most of it disappear, are having to face the reality that they're going to have to keep working and restart their retirement planning," he said.

Wunsch said the federation has "lost very modest support" as a result of the Enron situation, but did not elaborate. "Some of our donors were getting matching gifts from Enron.

We've lost that," he said.

One Jewish leader who asked not to be identified said he lost more than $50,000 in Enron investments.

"From what I know, none of the leaders of the Jewish community were involved directly in the Enron debacle, but a lot of Jews were employed there, or were shareholders," the Jewish leader said.

Enron employed a "lot of accountants, lawyers, senior executives, lots of skilled educated people-a lot of Jews were part of that," he said.

Jerry Wische, Executive Vice-president of the JCC, said some of the center's members have lost jobs at Enron, but he did not yet know how many.

"We're encouraging all the Enron employees who are JCC members to come talk to us about financial aid if they need to or if they are considering not continuing their membership" due to Enron-related financial losses, Wische said.

Page 19

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NEW YORK (JTA)-The Enron Corporation and Linda Lay, wife of its chairman and chief executive, have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Houston's Holocaust museum, accounting for approximately 10 percent of the institution's $3 million budget.

Now enmeshed in scandal and bankruptcy, Kenneth and Linda Lay were to be among the honorary cochairs at the museum's annual dinner this March, sharing the title with various dignitaries, including President Bush.

The energy company, which filed for bankruptcy protection last month after acknowledging it had overstated its profits by nearly $600 million, is at the center of a scandal in which it is accused of lying to investors and abusing its vast political clout.

Enron's collapse and the ensuing scandal are threatening the entire economy of Houston, and its effects are being felt by local Jewish institutions—particularly the Holocaust museum--and some of t h e city's 45,000 Jews.

Holocaust Museum Houston was one of many local cultural institutions that benefited from Enron and the Lays' largesse, and whose future, presumably without their assistance, is uncertain.

Although neither of the Lays are Jewish, Linda Lay, who is on the museum's board, grew up with many Jewish friends and sometimes attended synagogue with them, said Steven Johnson, a spokesman for the museum.

"She really believes in her heart about celebrating diversity, being aware of the dangers of hatred and prejudice," he said.

In 2000, Linda Lay was honored with the museum's Guardian of the Human Spirit award, given to an individual "who has reached beyond the ordinary in an effort to better humanity."

The Lays and Enron each regularly purchased $100,000 tables at the museum's annual dinner, and Enron was the $100,000 corporate patron of The Human Race, an annual "fun run" the museum sponsors to celebrate diversity, Johnson said.

In addition to the couple's donations, Linda Lay reportedly raised the lion's share of revenue for the museum's annual dinner, raising a significant amount of money, according to one Jewish leader, by making "lots of calls to Enron business associates."

"She was a major source of fundraising for the museum, and now that's dried up," the Jewish leader said. "Now there's no one for her to contact."

While t h e money from Enron "seems to be through," Johnson said Lay remains on the board and the museum is "hopeful that Linda Lay and her involvement will continue, and that we'll continue to receive some funding from her personally."

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February 1,2002

Jewish Parenting Resources Part 11: Raising a Mensch

by MARK MIETKIEWICZ—

It's probably one of the most wonderful and important words in the Yiddish language: Mensch.

Although English may not have a single word comparable to mensch, I found a website that does a pretty good job: "To be a mensch has nothing to do with success, wealth, status. The key to being 'a real mensch' is nothing less than character: rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous."— http://members.tde.com/ben/phylIis/homily4.html.

Now that we've defined "mensch" comes the next challenge. Raising one.

Today, some insights on bringing up a mensch from the World Wide Web. Aish HaTorah's parenting page is called "How to Raise a Mensch." There are articles on over 30 thought-provoking topics. Here's a sampling: • On Cultivating Kindness: "Raising a mensch is more than training our kids to say please and thank you; it,s nurturing the Divine image within our children. Instilling the trait of kindness is one of the primary ways of being like God whose essence is giving."

8 On discipline: "Always keep in mind that the punishment is for the benefit of the child, not for you. This requires a healthy dose of emotional objectivity... Your son or daughter is not yours, but is a trust given to you by God. Raising her well is how you show that God's trust was well-placed."

• On accepting imperfection in your children: "Feel good about your and your child's accomplishments. That's the antidote to perfectionism. Revel

in the happiness of accomplishment. And don't dis- Susan Edelstein suggests that just as Abraham count the small ones... Your child is not a nachas was instructed to Go Forth, Abraham's descenmachine." — http://aish.com/family/menseh/. dants have a responsibility to go out and help the Psychologist John Gottman also has a few sug- world: They should go from their "baseball gamegestions. He says to raise a mensch, parents must horseback riding lesson... dance recital... encourages their child,s emotional growth. The first Gymnastics meet... To be a light unto the nations / step is to look at your own parenting style which To perform acts of loving kindness / To welcome the stranger / To love your neighbors as yourself / To Gottman divides parents into four categories: • dismissing - these parents ignore or minimize a say 100 blessings every day / To feed the hungry / To clothe the naked / To console the bereaved / To child's feelings, especially negative one; • disapproving - believe emotions make people be holy because God is holy / To make peace where there is strife / To study Torah / To choose life." weak; • laissez-faire - these parents think the only pos- www.cliekonjudaism.com/pages/parentsible reaction to negative emotions is "to ride them ing07.html. out"; and Rabbi Donald Rossoff has written a lovely article • emotional coaches - who value the child's nega- about the importance of bringing up children to be tive emotions as an opportunity for intimacy. mensches but that doesn't mean the rabbi isn't a And Gottman emphasizes that it is critical for realist. He explains that while some parents have parents to set an example. "Parents who want to bumper stickers boasting that their child is an A teach their children about kindness, empathy and student or a great athlete, the rabbi's bumper compassion must actually show those qualities sticker that says "My kid is a mensch." toward other human beings, including the children The rabbi continues: "But the question comes up, themselves."~www.jewishsf.com/bk970530/sfra- "Which one is it? Which of my four kids is the menise.htm. sch?' I have a couple of answers to the question, Hillary Clinton popularized the African saying "It depending on my mood. My usual answers are Takes a Village to Raise a Child." In the essay "It either, 'I'd like to think they all are (mensches)', or Takes a Kehilla to Make a Mensch," Jeffrey Kress "They take turns." -http://uahc.org/congs/nj/njand Maurice Elias look at what responsibility the GQ7/yk2000_2.htm.

Jewish community must play in raising and nurMark Mietkiewicz is a Toronto-based televituring its children: www.rci.rutgers.edu/~melias sion producer who writes, lectures and teach/JENrevise.pdf. es about the Jewish Internet. He can be conIn her poem, "Lech Lecha: A Missive to Parents," tacted at: highway@rogers.com.

Funders Network Plans Expansion, Partnerships, New Ethos of Giving

by JULIE WIENER

—

—

NEW YORK (JTA)-Jewish philanthropists, watch out. Mark Charendoff wants you to write larger checks.

Unlike the hundreds of others vying for a piece of the Jewish pocketbook, Charendoff, the new executive director of the Jewish Funders Network, doesn't actually want donors' money.

Instead, he sees his 11-year-old organization, which is expanding in size this spring and opening its first Israel office, as a neutral advocate urging Jewish donors to "fund more and fund better."

Before joining JPN in September, Charendoff was vice president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, one of the largest Jewish, foundations in the world.

JPN is "in a unique position because we're not seeking funds," Charendoff said. "We don't have

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The funders group, which will hold its annual conference in Houston in March, sees its expanded role as four-fold: • Serving as a "virtual staff to Jewish family foundations, the majority of which are too small to hire professionals. JFN consultants will help foundations with such things as strategic planning, evaluation, crafting a mission statement and planning retreats.

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by KAREN GUSTAFSON, Jewish Family Service — —

There are many differing philosophies on whether or not an allowance should be offered to children. J u s t pick up any parenting book and you will learn "their" philosophy, which may contradict another book that you have read.

Sound confusing? It often is to parents who want to "do the right thing." So how do you know what to do?

There are a few general rules to go by that make giving an allowance an effective means of teaching children responsibility and money management: 1. Give an amount each week that is age appropriate to the child.

2. Never give money or a toy for each chore or responsibility met. Instead, have children earn chips, stickers, etc., for each responsibility, then designate the number they must earn in the week in order to get the full allowance.

3. Never take away a sticker earned. What is earned is earned! However, it is possible that a child may not earn a sticker.

4. Sit down with your children each week and discuss your expectations, or the responsibilities assigned, the number of stickers they need to earn, the amount of money possible, and maybe even another privilege they can earn that does not cost money (i.e, picking out a movie at home, deciding a favorite dinner, inviting a friend over, etc.).

5. Don't make the kids need to perform to perfection in order to succeed. Take the number of responsibilities times the number of days and decide how many stickers they would need for 8085% complete.

Not only does this give children a little leeway, it helps to develop the skill of problem solving (i.e., if I don't clean the cat litter today, can I still get enough stickers to earn my allowance?). Make sure the child still has the responsibility of telling you that 'he/she" did' not do something "as important as feeding an animal.

6. Allow children to earn a percentage of the total allowance for the responsibilities they did meet. If they only did 10% of what was agreed upon, they should be able to earn 10% of the possible allowance. The goal here is to reinforce all efforts, no matter how small.

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children the things they "want" that are not part of a family night.

For example, if you, as a family, go to the movies and always play a video game-okay; but, if playing t h e video game is a request of your child, then remind him/her that he would need to use his own money. If you pay for everything, how does that teach children to make some tough decisions about money that will benefit them in the future? Not to mention that the earning of money will lose its motivational value if they learn they really don't have to do anything to get want they want.

8. Allow children to spend their money as they wish. (Unless harmful, of course!)

Sometimes we hope and pray that they make a bad choice on a toy that breaks right away, or on candy that is gone right away. We do this not to be mean, but to allow children to learn their own lessons that are not harmful.

However, if not taught this lesson today, many make some very harmful and damaging choices in the future when the price is very high.

9 If children want more money than their "earned" allowance, they might be able to earn it by doing some of your chores. Not by doing their own!

10. Try to stick with a designated day to pay the allowance. This gives less motivated children an entire week to complete their responsibilities, and teaches the very motivated child the skill of delayed gratification.

11. Assign responsibilities that are not only age appropriate, but that help lessen your responsibilities as a parent.

12. Whatever you do, do not not remind children of their responsibilities. This creates an environment that keeps everything the parents' responsibility.

If a children do not earn their sticker, for example, they might say "I would have done it but you did not remind me!" Children tend to live up to the expectations we as parents have of them. Set the expectation of your children learning responsibility by taking his or her own responsibility.

by KEVIN PENROD, New York Life — — You've worked hard all your life and it shows.

Your kids have finished school, the mortgage is almost paid off, and you and your spouse are both healthy and looking forward to retiring. You've even managed to amass a comfortable nest egg to live on once you stop working.

It should be smooth sailing from here on, right?

Not necessarily. Studies show that while the average healthy 65-year-old can expect to live for another 20 years, he or she also has a 60% chance of needing some sort of long-term health care during that time. In fact, he or she has a 40% chance of spending time in a nursing home. And long-term care does not come cheap; while costs vary widely from one part of the country to another, the average nursing home costs $36,000 a year. What you may not be aware of is who usually pays for the cost of long-term care.

The single largest payer of the cost of long term care is actually the federal government. Medicaid pays for a staggering 46.5% of all long-term care costs. However, qualifying for Medicaid involves some hefty compromises, such as spending down most of your available assets before you qualify.

Medicaid may also reduce your options as to the type of care you receive, and when and where you receive it. Medicare, on the other hand, pays for only a little less than 10% of the cost of long-term care.

This means that the remainder of the cost is paid by private sources, either out of pocket, or by insurance companies. Many people, whether they know it or not, accept the risk that if they need long-term care, they will have to dip into their nest egg or their children's inheritance to cover the cost.

When you buy long-term care insurance, what you are doing is shifting that risk to an insurance company. In a traditional long-term care insurance policy, you pay premiums to an insurance company and the company promises to pay a daily benefit to help cover the cost of long-term care, should you need it. The amount of the daily benefit, the length of time the company will pay, and other factors vary by policy.

If you do wind up among the 60% who need longterm health care, the policy will help defray the cost. If you do not, the policy may include a return of premium feature if you die without using any benefit.

It is important to discuss your specific situation with a representative who can recommend a longterm care insurance solution to help meet your unique needs.

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Allowance for Children: Do l o r Don't 1?

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February 1, 2002

Protect Your Assets with Nursing Home Insurance

by JOSEPH M. JOHN, CLU, ChFC — — — —

by ALVIN L. ROSS, CLU ——---——— — ''This is the first generation of Americans to be fearful, not of dying too soon, but living too long,15 said Jane Bryant Quinn in Newsweek magazine.

Quinn's quote is all about money. It's about fear of outliving your retirement assets and fear of spending huge amounts on the cost of nursing home and related medical costs.

What are the odds of needing nursing home care?

Eight out of 10 American families will experience a need for long term care. Half the women and a third of the men will need nursing home care sometime in their lives.

Where can we go for financial help?

The government cannot accept total responsibility for us. Medicare pays a portion of the nursing cost for the first 100 days, and then it stops. So, the cost comes from your accumulated assets, a relative or insurance.

What do nursing homes cost?

In a first-rate facility, a semi-private room costs about $4000 a month, which does not include special services or prescription drugs. At $4000 per month, plus extras, you will spend about $50,000 a year. In five years, that is a huge dent in a large estate and would bankrupt a small one.

Is nursing home insurance expensive?

It is not expensive when you compare it to potential costs of long-term care.

Sample costs from one insurance company: at $3000 per month benefit payable for life, the annual cost at age 50 is $251, at age 60, it's $554 and, at age 70, $1566 (the cost will vary depending on company and benefits).

Compare this to the $50,000 annual cost of a semi-private room and you can see how important this insurance is in protecting your assets.

Choose a good company; review the policy provisions and buy young while your premiums are low.

Then gather your family together and tell them of this wonderful gift you have given them!

Tax deferred earnings. Future payments guaranteed by insurance. Various investment options to choose from. These are three big reasons why annuities, under the right circumstances, may be a very tax-efficient way to accumulate assets for long-term retirement needs.

Annuity purchase payments are not taxdeductible, so it may not be advisable to put money into an annuity before you've contributed the maximum to plans that may be funded by pre-tax dollars. However, qualified plans have some type of contribution limit - $2000 for IRAs in 2001 (rising to $5000 by 2008, with catch-up provisions for taxpayers over age 50); and $10,500 for 401(k)s in 2001 (rising to $15,000 in 2006, with catch-up provisions for taxpayers over 50). If those limits are too small to achieve your retirement goals, and you can afford to set more aside, an annuity affords an excellent spot for extra savings to grow taxdeferred.

Purchase payments go into a fixed annuity at a guaranteed rate, or into a variable annuity whose earnings are tied to the performace of a subaccount invested in underlying variable investment options.

Earnings on an annuity are not taxed until withdrawn, allowing the value of the contract to grow and compound. It's that tax-deferred feature, combined with a growing assortment of innovative products, that offers many levels of growth potential and investment risk, that have popularized annuities among people who still have many years to go before retirement.

Before buying an annuity, be sure to evaluate the characteristics of the issuing insurance company, its financial strength. Make sure you ask your licensed financial professional for a free prospectus. Of course, like any investment, you shouldn't purchase an annuity until you've closely evaluated how well it suits your financial objectives and tolerance for risk.

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PRAGUE (JTA)--Czech Jewish leaders are warning the public not to deal with a company that offers to help people obtain compensation for unpaid Holocaust-era insurance policies.

Tomas Jelinek, the Czech representative of the International Commission on Holocaust E r a Insurance Claims, known as ICHEIC, is criticizing the Company For the Aid of Victims of Nazi Injustice Association for the amount it is charging for its services.

The Czech-based Association, which started operating last August, began approaching Czech citizens after accessing ICHEIC's Internet listing of some 5,000 Czechs with Holocaust-era insurance policies. It already has gotten 150 people, nearly two-thirds of whom are Jews, to agree to pay the Association between 10 percent and 30 percent of their claim, along with a minimum fee of almost $300, if their claim is successful.

The head of the Association, Vladimir Hlavin, hopes to submit 300 claims before ICHEIC's deadline of Feb. 15.

Hlavin said that last year an average of $4000 was paid out to claimants. Based on his own calculations, he stands to make more than $200,000 — a fortune in Czech terms - if all claims are successful. Jelinek, who is also the chairman of the Prague Jewish Community, said people should avoid the company.

"The fees the company is asking for amount to daylight robbery," he said.

Jelinek's position was supported by the Czech Foreign Ministry, which argues that Holocaust victims and their relatives should not have to pay anything to make their claim.

"All administrative actions required for compensation are free," said a ministry official. "Banks here do not claim any interest, and we do not collect any fee for requests either."

Hlavin, who said he had set up his company because he is "fascinated" by Jewish history and culture, claimed he had found people through the telephone directory, asking citizens whether they were related to people named on ICHEIC's Internet-based list.

He also argued that he only accessed information from public sources available on the Internet, including the Red Cross, Yad Vashem and the Czech Republic's Gestapo archive.

The Executive Director of the Czech Federation of Jewish Communities, Tomas Kraus, said he doubts this claim.

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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

Page 23

As U.S. Jewish Population Ages, Communities Struggle to Respond

by SHARON SAMBER —

WASHINGTON (JTA)-Is the American Jewish community prepared for the aging tidal wave?

With the number of Jewish elderly expected to soar over the coming decade, leaders at the national and local levels realize they must move beyond traditional methods of caring for the elderly to develop new plans and policies.

Timing is critical. Many communities have been preparing to increase services to the elderly, but as baby boomers age and people live longer, there is

an urgent need to expand services and to plan—and to do it quickly.

The problem is especially acute in the Jewish community. An estimated 20 percent of American Jewry is 65 or older, a significantly higher proportion than among the general population, where the figure is around 13 percent. The 1990 National Jewish Population Survey showed that 920,000 Jewish Americans are at least 65 years of age.

As the issue of elder care becomes more promi-

by BERT LEWIS — — In case you think I've been ignoring you, let me just touch base from here in the Southwest, where I'm playing foreign correspondent. It's the time of year when we walk into a restaurant, or a place which attracts visitors, and bump into people from home.

Home being Omaha, of course.

It's always a kick to see folks away from their familiar turf, especially when it's unexpected. The topic in recent days has been how gloriously warm it's been "at home," in contrast with usual January temps. Of course, by the time you read this, it could be a very different story, and, if so, I'm sorry I brought it all up!

The fact is, we keep close tabs on how cold it is, and how much snow you have, and how slippery the streets are, and on and on. We worry about friends and family and hope everyone is managing to avoid trouble, fender benders and the various types of flu.

Of course, the weather isn't the only thing we're concerned with. Unfortunately, bad stuff happens no matter where a person is spending time. We're greatly saddened by the loss of people dear to us, especially when we're too far away to personally pay a call, or deliver a poppy seed cake and a hug.

Sometimes, the distance is ignored and we receive a phone call, which means that 24 hours later we're on a plane, flying home to a funeral. Recently, that happened to us, when my dear Uncle Dave gave up his struggle. On a Wednesday morning, I got the call; Thursday we flew home, and Friday morning, there we were, part of group gathered at Golden Hill Cemetery.

There were some unusual aspects to this gathering, and that's what I'd like to tell you about.

First, the group was larger than I expected. After all, Uncle Dave was very special to his family, but he didn't have what you might call celebrity status in the community. He was a life-long Omahan, was remembered as a grocer who worked hard all his life, and was known as an observant Jew who loved his family and his Judaism, unconditionally.

To his fellow congregants at Beth Israel, he was the guy they called when something needed fixing or attention. He didn't ask questions; he fixed or attended.

To his family, he was the good-natured youngest of four brothers, and the next eldest to the "baby"

of the clan, the only girl.

He held a lifelong respectful reverence for his parents, and spent many of his mature years striving to emulate his father. I think it's fair to say he succeeded in that effort.

If I'm going to be honest, I have to say there was nothing extraordinary about this man, except his delightful quality of just being a really good guy.

More simply, a mensch.

At his funeral, in the small crowd, there was his dear sister (no longer a youngster herself), who had made the quick trip from Los Angeles; one of her daughters, who flew in from New York; her eldest son, who traveled from his college residence in the East,; another nephew, who was on his way to Israel when he answered his cell phone in London (and who turned around and flew to Omaha); another nephew, who was in Idaho on business, but still managed to get back. Three of us got there from Arizona, because where else would we possibly be?

I'm not going to even try to mention all the folks who had been a part, whether large or small, of Uncle Dave's life. Young people who had been so good to him, doing favors, driving him here or there, running errands, having him to their shabbos dinners, picking him up when he needed a ride. They were all there, paying their respect, telling us little personal stories of their experiences with Dave.

As I write this, it's just short of three weeks since he died. As recently as two days ago, I bumped into some friends from home who happened to be visiting here in this desert community. We talked, discussed the weather and the usual nonsense, and then one of them said some nice things to me about my Uncle Dave.

He smiled when he told me that years ago, when my uncle patronized this man's store, he liked to sign for whatever purchase he made. He didn't scrawl that familiar Dave Wine' that was almost one word.

For whatever reason, he liked to just write his name in Hebrew.

Nothing greatly significant about this little vignette-just another little piece of somebody's memory of what this man was all about. I've said, in the words I've written about him, that my Uncle Dave was not a complicated person. That's really true; he was just what he appeared to be.

nent, however, t h e nation's economic crisis is expected to make things more difficult Funding for social services is likely to be cut as priorities shift toward funding security and anti-terror activities.

The budget surplus has gone and everything has become tougher since the terrorist attacks of Sept.

11, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR.) told Jewish community professionals at the United Jewish Communities' General Assembly in November in Washington, D.C. There must be savings incentives, penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans for long term care, and better ties between the public and private sectors, he said.

Looking to provide something of a road map for communities, UJC issued a guide that focuses on providing a "continuum of care," a comprehensive, client-oriented system of elder services.

The continuum has two parts. The first is services, including health care, mental health care, social services, transportation programs and housing for the elderly. Newer trends include allowing people to "age in place" in naturally occurring retirement communities. The second element is to coordinate mechanisms into a system instead of a fragmentary collection of services.

Local communities are looking for a coordinated effort. Without such coordination, there will be gated communities for seniors who will have no connection to Judaism, and the poor will be left behind, said Elliot Palevsky, executive director of the River Garden Hebrew Home for the Aged in Jacksonville, FL. Local Jewish leaders want the issue to be a national priority, but Congress has yet to make it so. Legislators have addressed the issue only in bits and pieces, such as regulation of nursing home care.

"If we don't get lawmakers to listen, we're not going to succeed," warned Diana Aviv, vice president of public policy for UJC, the Jewish community's central fund-raising and social services agency.

Getting the attention of state lawmakers is important as well, community leaders note.

Michael Blumenfeld, who works on government affairs as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Jewish Conference, a statewide lobbying group, said the only way to get state funding is to work in coalitions with other groups.

"You have to show legislators creative ideas and why it's worth the money," he said. "You have to say, *You think it's bad now, but it's only going to get worse.'"

Some community leaders are worried that their legislators cannot look past this year's budget.

Others are unsure of what to do next because it's still uncertain where budget cuts will be made.

In any case, a number of programs still are under way in different states to address seniors' needs, and advocates hope funding stays stable.

Leaders say the programs allow seniors to maintain dignity and a level of independence while still feeling part of the community.

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Page 24

Jewish Press, Omaha, NE

February 1,2002

Israel's Invisible Export

by WENDY ELLIMAN ——

• — - — —

——

JERUSALEM—Jaffa oranges, Golan wines and Ahava cosmetics are snapped up in stores worldwide, but another type of "Made in Israel' merchandise claims a far larger share of global markets. It comprises hundreds of products, from surgical lasers to drip-irrigators, all of them sharing one critical feature: each is the outcome of Israel's technological ingenuity.

Exporting technology is big business in Israel, with innovations and discoveries taken from laboratory to marketplace by commercial subsidiaries operated by the country's major research centers.

The Technion E n t r e p r e n e u r i a l Incubator Company (TEIC) is Israel's largest and most successful business incubator company. Like business incubators at Israel's other major research institutions, it provides entrepreneurs with funds, space and experienced consultants who help transform promising new technologies into successful hightech companies. The TEIC houses 40 active startups that develop products ranging from a cardiac assist device to an ultra-light ceramic foam. The 56 companies that have "graduated" from TEIC export a wide range of technologies, from a method to glue broken bones to satellite monitoring.

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot led the way over 40 years ago when it created Yeda (Hebrew for knowledge) Research & Development Ltd. Since its establishment in 1959, Yeda has entered into formal agreements with main investment groups and commercial enterprises, including multinational corporations.

Products and processes successfully transferred to industry include drugs to treat multiple sclerosis, hepatitis, cancer, viral diseases, and pulmonary damage] improved crop varieties and hybrid cultivars; data encryption techniques and other computer technologies; and electronics and solar energy technologies.

With royalties that have grown 50-fold since 1988, Yeda is outperformed by only a handful of

research institute companies worldwide.

Israel's commercial subsidiaries are strictly business-minded, mandated to protect the interests of the researchers and the research institute, says Dr. Raphael Hofstein, managing director of Hadasit Medical Research Services & Development Ltd., the commercial arm of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem.

"Scientists and researchers are academics; we're the business people," he says.

Created in 1988, Hadasit, too, is a major success.

It has introduced dozens of new Pharmaceuticals onto the world market, as well as diagnostics, medical devices and laser technologies, and is especially well known for its therapies for cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and orthopedics.

The Hadasit website currently lists 22 "new technologies and patents open for licensing." One is a liver regeneration protein. Another is a way of regenerating pancreatic cells to produce insulin, hopefully paving the way to a cure for diabetes.

Newly licensed and to become available later this year is a test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or "mad cow" disease. Fast, simple and accurate, it's the world's first in vivo test for BSE and will hopefully end the "one infected cow, destroy the herd" policy that has ravaged Britain's beef industry.

Medical technologies comprise almost half the nascent technologies under development in Israel today, but Israeli inventions range far further afield.

At Huntington Beach in southern California, for example, a water desalination test-unit that purifies 2,000 gallons of seawater a day was jointly built by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Stephen and Nancy Grand Water Research Institute of the Technion in Haifa.

If the test-unit proves itself, the partners will progress to a $35-million pilot plant to purify 5 million gallons a day, and ultimately to one handling

50 million gallons daily.

News organizations, electric power companies, law enforcement agencies, agricultural organizations and the military in many countries are showing interest in another Technion start-up — an unmanned helicopter that's both affordable and easy to operate. Its revolutionary stabilization system is controlled by patented mathematical formulas developed by Technion electrical engineer Gadi Kalisch.

The system enables the Steadicopter to be operated by relatively untrained people via the push of a button. It can take off from anywhere, including the roof of a car, and hover steadily for long periods while shooting quality videos. With infrared cameras, it can even check for weaknesses in highpower lines. Kalisch sees his Steadicopter system eventually being installed in manned helicopters as well, helping pilots fly their unstable machines.

Israeli technology has had considerable success in penetrating international markets both because of its quality and because its salespeople have connected with these markets, sensitized themselves to their needs, and worked to persuade public opinion shapers to adopt innovative technologies.

However, they tread a fine line between enticing international investors to buy technologies at an early stage and selling to larger and more experienced companies too soon.

Other international companies conducting largescale business with Israel include Imagyn, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Purotec International, Univision Technologies and Uro-Care Laboratories.

Oranges and face creams may taste and smell better, but it's the earning potential of Israel's technology that paves the way for the country's economic future.

Wendy Elliman, a free-lance writer, writes for Hadassah, American Society for Technion, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, and American Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

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