Edition 10 - Summer 2007

L Dor V'Dor from generation to generation • the newsletter of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society

Dinner with Mary by Oliver B. Pollak

Parents and grandparents gather for first birthdays. Several years later the child asks, "Who is that baby in the photograph." Jews compound annual observations with chai and celebrate 8, 10, 13, 16, 20, 21, 24, 25, 30, and so on.

History does not repeat itself; historians repeat one another. Mary Feilman and I as NJHS co-founders made remarks at anniversary time. We wrote "NJHS - Ten Years Old and Growing Stronger" (Memories of the Jew-ish Midwest, 1992) and "Early History of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society" (L' Dor V'Dor, Winter 2003).

Knowledge expands by publishing research. Memo-ries of the Jewish Midwest accomplishes this goal. Aspi-ration appears in volume 1,110. 1 and volume 2, no. 1 in 1985 and 1986. There was no number in those years. Thirteen volumes have appeared during the last twenty-five years.

We wanted Omaha, Lincoln and Council Bluffs stories and encouraged inveterate scribblers with memo-ries, promoted writing contests and introduced students to the ever-growing archives. Long time residents Louis E. Lipp, Celia Lipsman Blank, Jerry Gross, and David Bittner revealed Nebraska Jewish history. Elaine Abrams Clearfield's story about Lincoln's Milwaukee Delicates-sen appeared in our first volume; her book on Lincoln Jewish life, But You're Different, appeared in 1995.

Left to right: Lois Friedman, Oliver Pollak and Mary Feilman.

UNO graduate students wrote on Rabbi Frederick Cohn; sportsman and Mayor Johnny Rosenblatt; Sam "Mr. South Omaha" Greenberg; Ethel Katz Levenson Edgar; epigramist Harry G. Mendelson; and the Omaha Jewish community dur-ing World War II.

Rabbi Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote a history of B'nai Jacob Adas Yeshuron synagogue; it was reconstructed in the Riekes Museum. We sponsored Tillie Olsen's magical ap-pearance at the JCC. Three hundred people attended, includ-ing perhaps a couple of old boyfriends. Tillie's mother and Rose Blumkin had been friends. Frances Batt and Cynthia - Schneider recalled their youth. University of Nebraska Eng-lish Professor Linda Ray Pratt wrote about Nebraska born feminist writer. Tillie died at the age of 94 in January 2007.

Our more frequent publication, the Newsletter (1983-87), News Letter (1988-1994), Newsletter (1995-2001), and L'Dor V'Dor (2002-) contains lists of officers, donations of immigration, military, synagogue, club, school, wedding, and business records, interviews, autobiographical reminiscences, profiles of members, photographs, announcements of coming events, the grist of history.

Some people start their day with a cup of coffee. Mary started Shabbos with the Jewish Press. She even hung around the Press office on Thursday evening to scoop the mail car-rier. Mary always welcomed newcomers. Her shabbos din-ners were legendary.

In October 1980 after a Sunday showing at the JCC of the 1929 film Disraeli, Mary shared her ideas about establishing a Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. She knew the com-munity, publicity, and money. I would bring some academic expertise to our partnership.

This publication was produced through the generos-ity of the David and Rose Katzman Endowment Fund.

Mary arranged a luncheon to bring Lois Friedman, Silvia Roffman, Joie Simon in to her scheme. They were connected by sororities, Temple Israel, Beth El, Sisterhood, Hadassah, and National Council of Jewish Women. Sylvia had been the co-author of the Temple's 100th anniversary volume.

Mary and I brainstormed, planned, created exhibits, and proofread. She went to Alan Baer, Philip Klutznick and many others seeking financial contributions. Mary garnered support from Federation and JCC directors, Jewish Press editors, and the Federation Library and the society expanded its member-ship, square feet and visibility.

She reminisced about her years at the University of Ne-braska, editing the Jewish Press in 1947, and Henry Mon-sky. Memories of the Rabbis, especially Jonathan Goldstein, abounded. Mary was the communal memory.

Mary and Morrie's Shabbos dinners were legendary. Things happened around her table on Western Avenue. We met her family including sister and brother- in- law Annie and Harry Allen, her sister- in- law Sarah Saltzman, her cousins Ken and Sandra Freed, Phyllis and Max Bittner, and friends Charlotte Slutzky, Lou and Pearl Yager, Ernie Nogg, Joe and Pauline Guss and Lola Reinglas.

What an elaborate spread: Candles, brocha, motzi, salad, soup, potatoes, vegetables, stewed fruit, fish, chicken and bris-ket, second helpings, and dessert. Sometimes the meal included Mary's backyard growntnmtosJt was hard to help, as she made the kitchen off limits to guests. The meal ended with good and welfare, birkat, and we relocated to the living room.

The first NJHS exhibit was "One Hundred Years of Omaha Jewish Communal Life." We were eager and dedicated ama-teurs. What did we know of preservation, acid free paper and archival boxes. Within the last couple of years the exhibit was scanned, documents preserved, and remounted.

Morrie died in 1983 and Mary re-dedicated herself to good works and formed a Jewish singles network. Mary continued her Shabbos meals at her apartment on Western Avenue. One evening we were schmoozing in the living room after dinner, carrying on three of four conversations, Leonard Greenspoon's search for a Klutznick symposium topic resulted in Food and Judaism, published in 2005.

Artifacts adorn the JCC walls and fill the Frohm Archives and the adjoining Oscar Belzer Gallery. Rabbis and cantors are honored at the JCC entrance.

Mary at 90 lives in St. Paul. We miss her in Omaha but know it is a blessing for her to be near two of her children, and grandchildren. As our memories fade the archives, newsletter, journal, exhibits, meeting minutes, annual reports, and Jewish Press, provide a permanent record of our respect for history.

An Oral History Update Due to the hard work and dedication of Ben Nach-

man, the NJHS is very pleased to add the following interviews to our collection of oral histories: Shel-ley Cohen, So! & Mona Crandell, Betty Cutler, Stan Feinberg, Cantor & Mrs. Leo Fettman, Mort Glass, Richard & Helen Goldman, Don Greenberg, Shirley Greenberger, Jerry Gross, Ralph & Frances Katz, Dr. Mort Kulish & Kay Goldman Kulish, Shirley & Jim Lipsey, Harold Mann, Adrienne Rice Milder, Leon-ard Muskin, Murray & Bob Newman, Judge Ben Novicoff, Lewis "Lindy" Paul, Don Rice, Joe Rice, Iry Rips, Sellz Family-Norman, Shirley & Howard and Gloria & Donald Vann.

We Are Celebrating Our 25th Year

by collaborating with the Jewish Press in celebrating 85 years of publication with an exhibit of front pages, parts of which are still displayed throughout the JCC.

with a musical presentation of Ann Ronell 's music, interspersed with her biography; Ann (Rosenblatt) grew up in Omaha, began writ-ing skits & songs for youth groups, CèntiU High School, continued through college and on to Broadway and Hollywood.

a nostalgic photo display of teachers and stu-dents "Early Childhood Education 'Reunion" from as far back as people could find and contribute to the project.

updated and re-formated the first photo ex-hibit - '100 Years of Organizations' which is permanently displayed in the JCC auditorium.

made great progress on an ongoing project to identify, contact and collect information & photos from people who live(d) in the smaller Jewish communities in Nebraska, (other that Omaha or Lincoln).

AND COMING ATTRACTION • The annual meeting on August 5th, 2007

featuring the photography of Gary Gorelick. SAVE THE DATE!!

Short Notes from the NJHS

NJHS Wish List • Laser Colored Printer - $800.00 Specifically for printing of photographs. • Addition to the 50th Anniversary Wall - $1500.00: This would allow us

the opportunity to add additional photographs to this exhibit as the Wall is almost full.

There Was Film In His Camera Being a part of our Jewish community was very important to Gary Gerelick. He and his camera were permanent fixtures at many events. An exhibit featuring a collection of Gary's photographs will be on display in the JCC gallery the entire month of August 2007. Gary died August 24, 2006. The Staenberg Family Foundation, Joe Kirshenbaum, Keith and Judy Josephson, Hally Decarion and the Henry Monsky Lodge #3306 of B'nai B'rith will sponsor the exhibit celebrating Gary's life.

The display will open in conjunction with the NJHS 25th Anniversary celebration at our annual meeting on Sunday, August 5th. Please plan to attend the official opening and be prepared to do a lot of reminiscing.

Cemetery Project Underway For sometime the NJHS has wanted to be the community repository for Jewish cemetery records. Thanks to NJHS board member and volunteer, Nan Katz, we are attempting to make this goal a reality. We also would like to include the Lincoln and Council Bluffs cemeteries in the project. This ongoing effort will be an important genealogical resource. After the information available is recorded, the next step will be to the check accuracy of our information by actual visiting the cemeteries. We plan to start this endeavor with the Fisher Farm and Golden Hill cemeteries. If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact the NJHS office.

NEW NJHS MEMBERS We gratefully acknowledge and welcome our new members and life mem-

bers. Thank you for your generous support.

New Members Robert Evnen Marlen Frost Stu Giller Judge Ben Novicoff

Life Members Audrey Epstein Beth & Steve Leeds Linda & Harold Mann

2006-07 NJHS Officers President: Midge Bowers Secretary: Rocky Stern Treasurer: Ira Nathan Past President: Helen Epstein

Founders: Mary Fellman & Oliver Pollak

Board Members Ron Brodkey Stu Giller Caryl Greenberg Gary Javitch Debbi Josephson Joan Kaiman Nan Katz Janie Kulakofsky Sheldon Kushner Ed Malashock Max Neiden Ozzie Nogg Vicki Perlmeter Caryn Rifkin Larry Roffman Susan Rothholz

Ex Officio Louise Abrahamson Bob -Belgrade Joanie Bernstein Lois Friedman Helen Rifkin Chorney

Membership Chairperson: Kevee Kirshenbaum

Board Advisory on Oral Histories Ben Nachman

Board Advisory on Archives & Exhibits Doug Hartman

Legal Counsel Hugh Abrahamson

Office Staff Executive Director:

Renee Ratner Corcoran

Staff: Dottie Rosenblum Kathy Weiner

Fm" IL)LL)!

25th Anniversary Celebration BY BERT LEWIS

Although many of us will find it hard to believe, our own NJHS is 25 years old this year. A committee headed by Joanie Bernstein, and consisting of Ozzie Nogg, Su-zanne Singer, Silvia Roffman and Bert Lewis is planning a gala celebration. Executive Director Renee Corcoran added her expertise at a meeting recently held.

Sunday, August 5th, 2 o'clock in the afternoon is the date for what promises to be a wonderful event, liberally sprinkled with nostalgia, laughter, and pure enjoyment. The program will begin with a video made by Ben Nach-man, showing the original founders, who will speak brief on the very beginning of the dream, which, after a lot of hard work, became a reality.

The Mary Feliman Award will be presented to the Riekes Family in recognition of their generous endowme: to NHJS.

In addition, a photo exhibit by the late Gary Gerelick, will be mounted in the Gallery of the JCC, showing pic-tures he took through the years - pictures of people, place and events all-familiar to everyone. The exhibit will be called "There Was Film In The Camera" and will remain on display for the month of August.

Those are the highlights the Planning Committee reports, but hints there wi1fe more to help make the dày very special. They advise everyone to watch the Jewish Press for more information in the coming weeks.

Helen Epstein, Chairperson of the Child Development Center Exhibit. April 2007, JCC Gallery

Yale Richards, Dorothy and Henry Riekes

Donations to the NJHS: Anniversaries: Stuart & Bettie Muskin, from Hyman & Betty Poisky, Myrna & Kevee Kirshenbaum, Bernice Kaplan;

Lois & Lloyd Friedman, from Shirlee & Norman Smeerin; Marge & Norman Lincoln, from Louise Abrahamson.

Birthdays: Lourdes Secola from Dorothy Kaplan; Jerry Hoberman, Bob Kully from Janey & Jerry Dann; Herschel Premack from Debbi, Larry, Alan & Melissa Josephson; Jon Meyers from Debbi & Larry Josephson; Phyllis

Sherman from George Shafer; Rose Katzman from Barbara & Marshall Kushner; Harold Abrahamson from

Louise & Steve Abrahamson, & Dorothy, Julie, Howard & Marty Kaplan; Esther Stoler from Renee', Dan & Ashley

Corcoran.

Recovery; Iry Marcus from Helen & Dave Chorney; Mike Mogul from Michael & Ellen Hornstein, Debbie Greene from Jerry & Janey Dann; Don Nogg from Jerry & Janey Dann, Karen & Oliver Pollak, Doris & Milt Marks, Barbara

& Jerry Cohen; Louise Abrahamson from Phyllis & Norm Roffman, George Shafer, Helen Soiref; Howard Ruback from Karen & Oliver Pollak; Rosalie Meiches, Diane Malashock, Rick Fox, Joanie Jacobson from Debbi & Larry

Josephson; Lois Friedman from George Shafer, Sheila Rosen, Louise Abrahamson, Helen & Dave Chorney, Karen

& Oliver Pollak, Debbi & Larry Josephson; Norm Sheldon from Helen & Tuffy Epstein; Doris Shukert from Renee,

Dan & Ashley Corcoran, Karen & Oliver Pollak; Helen Chorney from Sheila Rosen; Dick Rochman from Janey &

Jerry Dann, Betty, Jan & Zach Cutler; Sheldon Kushner from Marty & Iris Ricks.

In Memory of: Margie Alperson, Barbara Gorelick, Gary Gorelick, Alice Mashbein from Velma Sacks, Ernie Nogg from Philip Rosenberg; Sophie Schulman from Karen & Oliver Pollak; Dorothy Platt from Barbara & Jerry Cohen,

Thomas Platt, Minnie Breslow, Dr. & Mrs Larry Schneider; Max Riekes from Karen & Oliver Pollak; Bernice Harris from Louise Abrahamson--Resalie-&-Milt Sfty1an-Karen-& Oliver Pollakfjoan Rosen's Mother, Irene- - Carter from Debbi & Larry Josephson; Janet Wintroub from George Shafer, Hy & Betty Polsky, Toni Rosen,

Myrna & Kevee Kirshenbaum; Doris Shukert from George Shafer, Myrna & Kevee Kirshenbaum; Ruth Aitsuler

from Toni Rosen; Guy Chadash's mother, Linda Abrahamson's mother from Louise & Steve Abrahamson; Ruben

Lippett from George Shafer, Louise Abrahamson; Bill Lohrman by Louise Abrahamson, George Shafer, Myrna &

Kevee Kirshenbaum; Howard Ruback from Sally & Bernie Jonisch.

Other: Happy Hanukkah - Susan Katzman, Howard Katzman & Katie Durham, Larry & Danna Katzman from Carol &

Mike Katzman.

In honor of Louise Abrahamson for her wonderful work in preserving our history from Kathy Helm;

Engagement of Robbie Epstein & Andrea Kramer from Debbi, Larry, Alan & Melissa Josephson;

Congratulations to Shelly Fox on earning her MSW degree from Debbi & Larry Josephson; Women of Wisdom

Award from UNO to Joan Marcus from Helen & Tuffy Epstein.

From NJHS Board of Directors and Staff:

Birthdays: Rose Katzman, Helen Epstein, Sandra Belgrade, Harold Abrahamson, Esther 'Tibe' Stoler.

In memory of: Margie Alperson, Juni Bloch, Toby Kagan, Sylvia Goldberg, Sophie Schulman, Dorothy Platt, John

Busse, Max Riekes, Bernice Harris, Janet Wintroub, Doris Shukert, Ruben Lippett, Howard Ruback, Midge

Corcoran

Recovery of: Norm Sheldon, Helen Chorney, Lois Friedman, Louise Abrahamson, Sheldon Kushner.

Nebraska Small Jewish Communities History Project Contribute your history!

One of the very exciting research activities underway by the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society (NJHS) is the Small Jewish Communities History Project. The NTJHS is a statewide organization, and our goal is to find historical information about Jewish families throughout the state of Nebraska. We have already received stories from over 150 people that have lived in over 25 cities throughout Nebraska.

We are seeking your help and ask you to complete the form below if you lived in a Nebraska city other than Omaha and Lincoln. If you know of others that we can contact, please let us know that information too.

Would you like to contribute to the project? Do you have memorabilia from Jew-ish communities in Nebraska? Please complete our contact form, so someone can contact you.

Name:

Spouse's Name:

Names of Children:

Phone Number:

Address:

City: State:

E-mail:___________

Small Nebraska Community Lived in:

Occupation:

I have information to share about: o My personal experiences in a Nebraska small Jewish community o Others who live or have lived in Nebraska small Jewish community

I want to show you: o Photos (family, business, Jewish gatherings) o Documents (Newspaper articles, letters) o Artifacts (related to work, home, or Jewish life)

I would like to learn more about: o Becoming a member of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society o Sitting for an oral history interview o Arrange for a relative or friend to sit for an oral history o Participate in history research

I have the following story or fact(s) to share:

E-mail form to: rcorcoran@jewishomaha.org

Zip Code:

njHS Nebraska Jewish Historical Society

Non-Profit Organization United States Postage Paid Permit #1436 Omaha, NE

The Nebraska Jewish Historic,,- Society 333 S 132 St Omaha, NE 68154

Address Service Requested.

NJHS Offices: E-mail jhs@jewishomaha.org . Phone: (402) 334-6441/6442 • Fax: (402) 334-6507

flJ*HS Nebraska Jewish Historical Society

Nebraska Jewish Historical Society Donations

We have available for all occasions, cards for donations of $5.00, $10.00 and $25.00 and up. Also available are packets of six ($5.00 cards) for $25.00. Please use the form below and we will send the appropriate card. Please make your checks payable to the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, 333 South 132nd Street, Omaha, NE 68154.

TO: Name

Address

FROM: Name

Address

ENCLOSED: $

IN HONOR OF

EJ IN MEMORY OF

J OTHER

OR call the NJHS office at 334-6441 between 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday. Contributions can be

made to the NJHS Fund or the Mary Feliman Permanent Enrichment Fund.