^JEWISH PRESS VoL LXXXH
No. 21
Omaha, NE
21 Shevat 5763
January 24,2003
CELEBRATING 82 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA
Report: If "Jewish5 Secyrlty Is Used, Muslims Couicl Bomb 2004 Olympics by JEAN COHEN
Judy Gotsdiner's ideals Live by CLAUDIA SHERMAN
Foundation Public Relations Coordinator«
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ATHENS (JTA)--Islamic extremist groups reportedly have threatened to bomb the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens if security is assigned to a consortium that includes Israeli companies. In addition, Arab nations are threatening to boycott the •Olympics if the SAIC Team gets the security contract for the Games, according to the Greek newspaper Avriani. According to Avriani, a classified report from Greece's government security service mentions that the possibility of using a "Jewish company" for security at the Games "will blow the Olympics into the air." The so-called "Jewish company"--the SAIC Team —actually is a U.S. consortium that includes two Israeli companies and several Greek companies. The report says that some SAIC Team employees come from the Israeli secret services. The report also notes the possibility of attacks before the Games, as Muslim groups reportedly have threatened a bombing blitz if a Jewish company receives the Olympic security contract. Greece also is reportedly concerned that one of the Israeli companies on the team has signed a cooperation agreement with Turkey, Greece's longtime rival. Greece's Ministry of National Defense noted that national security could be compromised if the Israeli company gains access to classified information. For this reason, the Israeli company's insignia has been dropped from a recent SAIC Team advertising campaign.
Gary Gotsdiner met Judyj ;i:urze on March % 2002. But Zaiman in 1976 when they were j ; v"o days later, she had another both in law school at the,' .] =pvere hemorrhage and died on University of Nebraska in • j March 7. She was 49-years-oId. Lincoln (UNL). Born and raised i t !•! addition to her husband and in Omaha, Gotsdiner attended, i ch:ldren, Judy is survived by Denver University and is now • her mother, Toshiko Zaimau, 1 an attorney with the Omaha did brother. Bob Zaiman. an firm of McGill Gotsdiner; i Orraha dentist. Judy's father, Workman and Lepp. jG?-y Zaiman, died in Xi rember 2002. Zaiman also grew up in • j "She was very proud of being Omaha and completed her j an attorney but that was heaviundergraduate studies at ! > balanced with volunteer UNL. Meeting her certainly v crk,~ Gary Gotsdiner said. "made law school a pleasant experience," Gotsdiner recalled. Judy was appointed to the The two married on Sept. 17, lr\ Nf-braska Equal Opportunity 1978, at a small family ceremo- ~ Commission by Governor Ben ny in Omaha. kelson in 1997. She reviewed After she graduated, Judy and rendered decisions regardJudy Gotsdiner Gotsdiner worked at Omaha ing cases of alleged discriminaNational Bank until 1983 when she moved to a sub- tion throughout Nebraska. She was also a volunteer sidiary of the bank that specialized in real estate with the Omaha YWCA, served as its President, and finance. In 1988, she began a career with Mutual of was elected to the YWCA of the USA Board in 1996. Omaha. By 2000, she was First Vice-president, In addition, Judy Gotsdiner served on the boards counsel, and assistant secretary with the Mutual of of the National Conference for Community and Omaha Companies. Her responsibilities included Justice CNCCJ), the Omaha Children's Museum, providing legal counsel to the companies' invest- and United Way of the Midlands. She participated ment division. in the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Life also centered around Judy's and Gary's Leadership Omaha program. Of Japanese descent, Judy was honored as the daughters: Katie who is now 15 and Jessie, 12. "Things were always busy," Gary mentioned. "We Outstanding Asian Woman of the Year by the Nebraska Women of Color Conference and was had a wonderful time together. We laughed a lot." But in October 2001, Judy suffered a severe brain selected as one of the eight ^Worsen of Vision" by hemorrhage. After three weeks in intensive care the YWCA in 2000. (Continued on page 7) and months of rehabilitation, she was able to return
Lieberman: A Jewish Candidate or Just a Candidate Who is Jewish? by MATTHEW E. BERGER — •
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STAMFORD, CT, (JTA)-When he ran for class president of Stamford High School in 1960, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) says he faced no bigotry because he was Jewish. Now, as a candidate for president of the United States, he's hoping for the same treatment and the same victory—from a national audience. Lieberman officially entered the race for the presidency Monday, announcing that he was filing papers to seek the Democratic nomination hi 2004. Lieberman enters a strong field that includes two fellow senators-with the possibility of a third enterhag soon—a former Democratic leader in the House, a liberal Northeast governor and a civil rights activist. Lieberman is one of the first Jewish candidates in U.S. history to seek the White House-and the only one who is considered to have a real shot. Among American Jews, he has almost an angelic status, considered a ground breaker for others to follow. But he has also been a controversial figure at times, taking stands that buck the views of the majority of American Jews and liberals, and consistently evoking faith in his campaigns. While many in the Jewish community say Lieberman's candidacy represents an important achievement for Jews in the United States, there is confusion over exactly how to view him. Is he the Jewish candidate or just another political candidate who happens to be Jewish? And will Jews see it differently than the rest of the American population? At bis news conference on Jan.. 13, Lieberman held
Defamation League, said he does not think himself up as the man for all Americans. 'Tin running because of the ideas I have for our Lieberman will be seen as a Jewish candidate the nation's future and how to make it better," he said way the Rev. Al Sharpton, who also intends to run, at his high school alma mater. will be seen as an African American candidate. "I'm not running on my faith," Lieberman said. T think outside the Jewish community, the only "But the fact is my faith is at the center of who I am ones who will look at him as a Jewish candidate are and I'm not going to conceal that." the bigots and the anti-Semites, who are a minoriAbraham Foxman, national director of the Anti- ty," Foxman said. Foxman chastised Lieberman when he ran as the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000 for often referring to faith and God in his speeches and for advocating a greater role for faith in American life. But, Lieberman indicated that his style of campaigning would continue through 2004. Lieberman said he would not hesitate to invoke faith and God's name, when it comes naturally, while on the campaign trail. He cited the Declaration of Independence as the source that American political power comes from the creator. "I think if the spirit moves me on occasion to say a word or two of faith, I think it's a very American thing to do," Lieberman said to a strong round of applause. (Continued on page 8)
INSIDE: Jeanette Nadoff Visits AMIT Schools in Israel page 6
Sen. Joseph Lieberman announced his intent to seek the nomination for U.S. President. Photo by Robert A. Cumins.
Vcftzds Nu? Column Resumes
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23 Signed upfbrMaecabi Games
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