Vol. LXXXII
No. 12
Omaha, NE
17 Kislev, 5763
November 22,2002
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 81 YEARS
Alpersoo Insists: "We Are Answerable
Attorney in Roe v* Wade Case
to"th"e"Next Generation" Speaks in O m a h a N e x t M o n t h by RITA SHELLEY
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For Joel Alperson, visiting Israel on missions and as a tourist is part of practicing his faith. He has traveled there six times in the last two years. Alperson will talk about those travels, and share some of his observations about demands that current world politics currently place on American Jews, at a Shabbos luncheon Saturday, Dec. 7 at Beth Israel Synagogue Traveling to Israel has both emotional and intellectual appeal for Alperson, whose list of local, national and international activities on behalf of Jewish causes is lengthy: He has co-chaired Jewish Federation missions to Israel and chaired the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Young Leadership Cabinet. (Continued on page 8)
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On a mission to Israel in October, Joel Alperson met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at Sharon's residence. He said the mission helped him gain a sense of what's happening in Israel, to learn what social needs are there, and to see how funds raised worldwide are making a difference.
by SALLY ZIPURSKY NCJW Public Relations Vice-president •
Before 1973, abortion was illegal in Dr. Weddington has the United States. Women seeking to received numerous honors terminate a pregnancy either had to and awards. In 2001, she obtain permission of a hospital comwas presented the mittee (often admitting to mental illSpeaking Out for Justice ness) or fly out of the country to places Award by the American like Mexico, the Bahamas or Puerto Association of University Rico. Women. In 1999, she was featured for her "Courage Sarah Weddington changed all that. to Challenge" in Women of In 1973, Weddington successfully Courage: Inspiring argued the landmark Roe v. Wade case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She Stories from the Women is believed to be the youngest person Who Lived Them by ever to win a case before the U.S. Katherine Martin. She Supreme Court. Since that time Dr. has received the Planned Weddington has dedicated her career Parenthood Federation of to work on issues affecting women in g a r a h W e d d i n g t o n w a s t h e a t t o r - America's Margaret her many roles as attorney, legislator, n e y o f r e c Q r d i n t h e n o w famous Sanger award, its highest Presidential advisor, professor and R o e v# W a d e c a s e w M c h e s t a b l i s h e d honorand has been feat u r e d i n :7Tme Ma nafaonal media expert. abortion rights in the U.S. S^me, The National Council of Jewish Ladies Home Journal, Women, Omaha Section will present a Benchmark Working Women and the Washington Post. event for the entire community featuring Sarah Additionally, Sarah Weddington has been a guest on Weddington at on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. at the The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Jewish Community Center. The event is open to Morning News, and CNN. the public and free of charge. Weddington received her law degree from the NCJW was the first national Jewish women's University of Texas School of Law in 1967 and is a organization to advocate for a woman's right to Distinguished Alumna of McMurry University. choose, adding it to its national resolutions in 1969. From 1981-90, Dr. Weddington was a Distinguished From 1978-81, Weddington served as Assistant to Lecturer at Texas Woman's University and an President Jimmy Carter, directing his Adjunct Professor in the History and Government Currently, she is an Adjunct Administration's work on women's issues and lead- Department. ership outreach. From 1983-85, Dr. Weddington Professor at the University of Texas, where she served as the first woman Director of the Texas teaches "Gender-Based Discrimination" and Office of State-Federal Relations. Dr. Weddington "Leadership in America." Weddington writes and was the first woman from Austin in the 150-mem- travels extensively, speaking on the development of ber Texas House of Representatives; she was elect- leadership skills, and is currently working on a (Continued on Page 8) ed in 1973 and served three terms in that office.
The Project Dreidel Chronicles
The Gambler by PAM MONSKY, Federation Communications — — -
(Editor's note: The story you are about to read is true, and used with permission. The names have been changed to respect individuals' privacy.) Welcome to the second installment of "The 2002 Project Dreidel Chronicles." Each person depicted in these stories has graciously agreed to share his or her story with the community to increase public awareness of Jewish Family Service's programs and services that have made such a tremendous difference in their lives. Through Project Dreidel, JFS provides Hanukkah gifts and Jewish holiday meals to families in our area who cannot afford them. But sometimes, families and individuals have unexpected emergencies that require immediate intervention. JFS is there to provide the financial and emotional support needed to get back to normal, and that support costs money year round. Your gift to the Jewish Federation's 2003 Centennial Campaign, along with donations to Jewish Family Service tzedakah fund, is what allows us to take care of each other. Despite our best efforts, our community's needs continue to outpace the increase in gifts to the Annual Campaign. Your increased campaign gift ensures that every Omaha Jewish community member will have access to professional and compassionate help in a Jewish environment. To find out how you can help make a difference in the lives of others, please contact JFS at 330-2024, or the Jewish Federation at 334-643.1.. .
circumstances." "He was describing my family," said Levy "The column struck a chord, but I still carried a copy of it around with me for two weeks" before I worked up enough nerve to call." The Levys could be anyone. Daniel and his wife, Lori, are both professionals with promising, goodpaying careers. They have two kids, Max, 16 and Samantha, 12. They live in a nice four-bedroom house in a West Omaha sub-division. As you read this, you can probably think of a dozen families like the Levys who live in our Jewish community. Like Stiel's column said, it could happen to anybody. Daniel was up against the proverbial wall. He could no longer deny the fact that his gambling problem had led the family down the road to finanDaniel Levy read the column about tzedakah writ- cial ruin. The phone calls from creditors were ten by Jewish Family Service Director Steve Stiel in. becoming increasingly more frequent and threaten(Continued on Page 8) its latest newsletter three times. The article described how difficult it i.« for many families to a<-k for help when they are in crisis. INSIDE: "Whenever someone comes to JFS for h(;lp, I Acco Youth Ensemble to Perform page 7 j always find it to be a humbling experience," Sliul wrote. "As I listen to the talo of hardship and misRead It and Eat page 11 ; fortune, I am aware that with a twist of fate, it could just as easily be me sitting in that chair havTemple Israel brings New York Times * ing to ask for help. The.-*? are average people who are facing a financial setback due to any number of Columnist page 12 f