EWISH Vol. LXXXII
No. 5
Omaha, NE
28 Tlshrei, 5763
October 4,2002
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 81 YEARS
"Proud to be a Centennial Patron" Honors Federation Campaign
Livingston Foundation Appoints Myron Kaplan as Executive Director
by PAM MONSKY Federation Communications Director.
by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor
Joanie Kaiman and Jerry Kohll are serving their second term as General r Campaign Co-chairs dur- > ing an exceptional ] Campaign year as the Jewish Federation of Omaha celebrates 100 years of service to the Jewish community. For 100 years, the Omaha Jewish community has been raising money for tzedakah, community programs and resources and the rescue of Jews in need all over the world. Jerry Kohll The community also just finished an unprecedented and highly successful Israel Terror Relief Campaign, raising more than $940,000 for Israeli terror victims. Nevertheless, the community continues to face tremendous challenges in meeting today's needs and securing our future. With a motivated Campaign Leadership Team firmly in place (see list below), Kaiman and Kohll are moving full-steam ahead to make sure the Omaha Jewish community is prepared for the next 100 years. And how will we accomplish that? Their answer is simple: "Raise enough money to support all our valuable Jewish agencies and programs." Thus was born the Centennial Patron Program for the 2003 Centennial Campaign. Starting Oct. 18, "Proud to Be A Centennial Patron" ads will run regularly in the Jewish Press with an alphabetical listing of those donors who increase their gift, whatever the amount, to the Annual Campaign. Those who increase their gift by $100 or more in honor of the Centennial will have their name highlighted. The
names of all Federation major gifts donors ($5,000 or more for women; $6,000 or more for men) will be listed in honor of their generous and continued contributions. Members of the Men's and Women's Senior Campaign divisions will also be listed in the ad for their steadfast support. Kaiman and Kohll remain highly focused on the task at hand. Their pride in the Federation's Joan Kaiman Centennial celebration and their commitment to support the daily business of the Jewish community outweighs any worries about the economy and its effect on the Campaign. "We've got 100 years of success behind us," remarked Kohll, "and there is no doubt in my mind that the Omaha Jewish community will be successful for the next 100 years." Kaiman, too, believes in the spirit of the community. "The JCC Maccabi Games brought out the best in all of us and, in my opinion, the Campaign is another example of our incredible community spirit." Members of the 2003 Campaign Leadership Team are: Pete Brodkey and Jerry Dann, Men's Campaign Co-chairmen; Joanie Jacobson and Patty Nogg, Women's Campaign Co-chairmen; Bruce Shaekman, Pacesetter Chairman; Michael Miller, Young Leadership Chairman; Elinor and Guy Matalon, Super Sunday Co-Chairmen; Joe and Maxine Kirshenbaum, Co-chairmen-elect; and Ruth Erman and Bobbi Leibowitz, Women's Campaign Co-chairmen-elect.
Endowments Fund Grandparents Day by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Foundation Public Relations Director — — • ~ — — ~ —
Phyllis and Chester Lustgarten's mothers both lived at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. Ida Ontman, Phyllis's mother, and Pola Lustgarten, Chester's mother, lived in the Dr. Philip Sher Home for the Aged before moving to the Blumkin Home when it opened in 1982. Ida Ontman "enjoyed the L.O.V.E. (League Offering Volunteers to the Elderly auxiliary organization) activities" and was "befriended by a L.O.V.E. volunteer," said Phyllis Lustgarten, Ontman's daughter. Last year, Lustgarten established the Chester and Phyllis Lustgarten Endowment Fund to support either a suitable program honoring grandparents or any program or project sponsored by L.O.V.E. for the residents of the Blumkin Home. In 2000, Patty and Steve Nogg set up an endowment fund for the same purpose. The fund is named after Patty Nogg's parents, Betty A. Studna and Seymour T. Lee. Co-chairmen of L.O.V.E. from 1997-99, the Noggs initiated a Grandparents Day celebration at the Blumkin Home with "To Bubbe and Zayde with LOVE," an original production written by Joanie Jacobson. "There was a whole day of activities," recalled Patty Nogg, as there will be this Sunday, Oct. 6,12-4 p.m. Her great-grandmother, Rebecca Cohen, was a resident of the Dr. Sher Home. Steve Nogg's mother, Adalynn Nogg, lived at the Blumkin Home after she suffered a stroke. "She was happy there," Patty Nogg said, "and we were all so impressed by her care and the facility." Although setting up the endowment "stems from
my feelings towards my own grandparents," Nogg explained, the fund is named in honor of her parents. Patty's mother, Betty Cohen Lee Studna, was born and raised in Council Bluffs. Patty's father, Seymour Lee, was from Rochester, New York. The couple met in Iowa City where Betty was going to college and Seymour was stationed while serving in the military. After they married, they lived in Council Bluffs where Seymour Lee ran Iowa Clothes Shop, formerly owned by Harry Cohen, Betty's father. In later years, Seymour Lee lived in Chicago and then in Kansas City retailing men's clothing. Betty also worked at Iowa Clothes and was active in B'nai Israel Synagogue in Council Bluffs as well as in the Sisterhood there and Hadassah. "I remember she was the 'tree lady' (who took orders for trees to be planted by the Jewish National Fund in Israel)," Patty Nogg said. Betty did Red Cross and American Cancer Society volunteer work, too, Patty added. "My Dad worked (as a volunteer) for UJA (United Jewish Appeal) and his synagogues in Council Bluffs and later in Kansas City." Patty has a sister Judy Brantz who lives in Boulder, Colorado. The Lees also had a son, Richard (Pete) Lee, who died in 1996. Subsequently, Betty and Seymour Lee divorced. Betty continued working at Iowa Clothes Ml time. She married Harlan (Bud) Studna in the mid1970s. He moved from California to Omaha where the couple lived until she died in 1989 when she was 64. Seymour Lee later married Jean Passer. He died in 1987 at the age of 63. (Continued on page 15)
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Attorney Myron J. Kaplan has been named legal counsel and Executive Director of the Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation. Kaplan takes over from his former , law partner at Marks Clare & Richards, .-'•-. •.. L.L.C., Yale i 'A. Richards, who has resigned the •if'Ciposition he Myron J. Kaplan has held for more than 28 years. Richards has semi-retired, and is now "of counsel" to the law firm. In announcing the appointment, Bob Kully, President of the Livingston Foundation, said, "We are fortunate in being able to select a new counsel and Executive Director from the same firm as before, which will greatly facilitate the transition from Yale Richards. Myron Kaplan has been very active in the Jewish community and intends to broaden his involvement. We are confident he has the knowledge and experience to help guide us in our future philanthropy." Kaplan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska, and graduated cum laude from Creighton Law School. In the Jewish community, Kaplan has twice served as President of B'nai B'rith Henry Monsky Lodge and was a Trustee of the Lodge for 14 years. He served eight years on the BBYO Adult Advisory Board. Kaplan has also been a member of the board of Beth El Synagogue, where he served as Chairman of the Budget Committee. He has recently been appointed to the Jewish Federation Budget and Allocations Committee, and to the Nebraska Council of AIPAC (the American/Israel Public Affairs Committee). Kaplan has also served the City of Omaha as a member of the Police Policy Advisory Committee under Mayor Bernie Simon. In acknowledging the appfointment, Kaplan noted that he was "honored to have been selected to accede Yale Richards in this position. I have been associated with Yale for some 20 years, and hope can continue to provide the Foundation the same dedication, commitment and counsel that he has provided." The Livingston Foundation was founded in 1948 by Milton and Corinne Livingston. Since Milt Livingston's death in 1969, the Foundation has been a leading contributor to Jewish and nonJewish charitable, religious and educational institutions in Omaha, and has also provided financial support for a number of national programs and for Israel. The present Trustees of the Foundation also include: Murray H. Newman, Stanley J. Slosburg, Suzanne Richards Singer, Gerald A. Hoberrnan and Dr. Patricia Newman.
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INSIDE; Election Preview The
Promising
Teen Age
pagr S Land
pages
10-11
page 13